Taiwan tightens food import regulation for Japanese products

Japanese food products imported into Taiwan will now be subject to stricter tests as Taiwan demands a certification revealing the place of origin and production.

As per new rules, Taiwan will only allow foods with Japanese Government-issued place of origin certificates to enter Taiwan.

Also, food items from radiation-exposed areas such as Fukushima, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Chiba and Gunma prefectures will need radiation testing reports before entering Taiwan markets.

Taiwan had banned food products from these five regions after the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster.

The move comes soon after this year’s incident, in which Taiwanese authorities said that more than 200 Japanese food products sold on the island originally came from radiation exposed areas near Fukushima Dai-ichi, but were mislabeled as having come from other areas.

Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration said that the new rule was in line with the radiation safety measures practiced by other countries after the nuclear plant disaster.

However, Japan has voiced its displeasure and hinted at involving World Trade Organization if Taiwan does not eases the regulations.

Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga was quoted by Reuters as saying: "Japan’s Government would like to urge Taiwan to scrap or ease the import restrictions based on scientific perspective."

Japan’s embassy in Taipei said in a statement: "Falsified labels of product origins and food safety are different issues. We will continue to let Taiwanese people understand the safety of Japanese food and hope the Taiwanese authorities can further loosen its controls."