Easing restrictions o Japanese food

August 13, 2014

Gov't steps up calls for Asia countries to ease restrictions on food imports from Japan

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140813p2a00m0na005000c.html

The government is stepping up its calls for Asian countries to ease or lift restrictions on imports of agricultural, marine and food products from Japan that were imposed in the wake of the outbreak in March 2011 of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

Agriculture Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was to visit Hong Kong on Aug. 13 and call for the relaxing of its restrictions on imports of farm and other products from five prefectures including Fukushima. Hayashi is poised to try to help boost exports of Japanese food products by demonstrating the safety of those products based on scientific data.

Before attending the "Hong Kong Food Expo 2014" due to open on Aug. 14, Hayashi is to hold talks with Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man and urge Hong Kong to relax its ban on imports of foods such as vegetables and fruits from regions affected by the nuclear disaster.

Hong Kong is the world's top destination for Japan's exports of agricultural, marine and food products, with more than 20 percent of Japan's exports of such products arriving in Hong Kong in 2013. And yet, Hong Kong keeps its ban on imports of such products as vegetables and milk from the five prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, at least 50 countries and regions imposed restrictions on food imports from Japan immediately after the outbreak of the Fukushima nuclear crisis. The ministry has since been giving explanations based on scientific data that there are no such problems as contamination with radioactive substances.

A senior ministry official said, "There may be a vague feeling of anxiety that is not based on scientific grounds." The government's efforts have borne some fruit. Singapore, for example, eased some of its restrictions in July. Nevertheless, 41 countries and regions still maintain some sort of restrictions.

Japan's exports of agricultural, marine and food products stood at 492 billion yen in 2010 -- before the Great East Japan Earthquake. They dropped to 451.1 billion yen in 2011 and 449.7 billion yen in 2012. But thanks to the weak yen, they rose to a record 550.5 billion yen in 2013.

Boosting exports is a pillar of the government's growth strategy. Thus, the government plans to urge each country to relax or lift their restrictions on imports of agricultural, marine and food products from the regions affected by the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

August 13, 2014(Mainichi Japan)