Radiation checks to be scaled back

January 19, 2018

Fukushima to scale back rice radiation checks

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/19/business/fukushima-scale-back-rice-radiation-checks/#.WmMGSHkiGos

JIJI

FUKUSHIMA – Fukushima Prefectural Government plans to scale back radiation checks on rice harvested in the prefecture, officials said Thursday.

The prefectural government is considering switching to sample tests, from blanket checks on all bags, within a few years for rice produced in areas not close to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the officials said.

But some farmers have sought to keep the full checks in place. The prefectural government aims to make a final decision by the end of March.

Blanket radiation checks began in 2012 following the triple meltdown at the nuclear plant in March 2011.

From the 2012 harvest 71 bags of rice had levels of radiation that exceeded the safety limit, which is set at 100 becquerels per kilogram.

But the number has since declined, and no such bags were found between 2015 and 2017. Taking the results into consideration, the prefectural government has been reviewing the test method to reduce costs and manpower.