EU strengthens controls on foodstuff imported from Japan

Brussels, 25/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 25 March, a further step was taken to ensure joint vigilance with regard to EU food imports from Japan. In order to further limit the risk of potential contamination of its food chain, the EU has decided to step up controls on all foodstuffs and feed, especially those on products from 12 Japanese districts where food production is liable to be contaminated by radiation caused by the Fukushima nuclear accident. Member state experts meeting within the EU standing committee on the food chain and animal health (SCoFCAH) have given their go-ahead to the Commission's draft regulation aimed at imposing special, harmonised import conditions. This decision, which allows the regulation to be adopted, goes far further than the recommendation of 15 March whereby the Commission had invited member states to reinforce their testing for radioactivity in food imported from Japan (see EUROPE 10339). Under this regulation, very stringent measures should be enforced. They will be reviewed every month.

• All foodstuffs and feed for animals from the 12 prefectures that are most problematic (four of them are in the Japanese regions most affected) should be tested before leaving Japan, and sent with a declaration from the Japanese authorities attesting that the products do not contain more than the maximum authorised content in iodine-131, caesium-134 and caeusium-137. They will be subject to random testing upon arrival in the EU.
• For the other 35 Japanese districts, any foodstuff or feed sent to the EU should be accompanied by a declaration mentioning the district of origin and will also be subject to random testing upon arrival in the EU.
• Importers will be under the obligation to notify national control authorities two days before imported produce reaches Europe.

Food and feed harvested or processed before 11 March (the date when the earthquake and tsunami occurred) are not subject to the above provisions but, in order to be imported into the EU, they must be accompanied by a declaration that clearly states their harvest date as being prior to 11 March.

For food and feed harvested or processed after 11 March, the relevant authorities at border inspection posts or at the designated point of entry to the EU of the cargo will carry out identity controls and checks regarding the origin of the imports. Physical inspections, including laboratory analysis, will be carried out on at least 10% of the consignments for products from the 12 most suspect areas, and physical checks will also be carried out on at least 20% of the consignments from the remaining 35 prefectures. Pending the results of testing, products shall be kept under official control for a maximum of five working days. Consignments will be released when the importer presents to the custom authorities favourable results of the official controls. Products that are found to exceed the maximum permitted levels of radiation shall not be placed on the market and will either be safely disposed of or returned to Japan. (A.N./transl.jl)