Brussels, 12/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The tightened-up controls on potential radioactivity imposed on imports of foodstuffs and animal feed from Japan will continue to apply in the EU until 31 December of this year. This decision was made on Friday 9 September by the standing committee on the food chain and animal health of the EU, extending by three months the measures adopted by the EU on 24 March of this year to further limit the risks of potential contamination to its food chain after the Fukushima nuclear accident (EUROPE 10345).
In so doing, the representatives of the member states with a seat on the standing committee have enshrined a proposal by the European Commission. In a press release, the Commission stresses that the risks to food safety as a result of Japanese imports are extremely low in the EU and that the extension of these measures is purely a matter of precaution and vigilance.
Readers may recall that the reinforced controls apply to all foodstuffs imported from 12 Japanese prefectures and aim to detect any presence of iodine-131, cesium-134 and cesium-137 beyond the maximum levels authorised before even leaving Japan, and upon arrival in the EU, by means of laboratory checks for at least 10% of the cargo. Foodstuffs and animal feed from the other 35 prefectures must simply be accompanied by a declaration stating the prefecture of origin, but are also checked on arrival in the EU by means of sample testing on at least 20% of the cargo. (A.N./transl.fl)