European Commission set to ease restrictions on Japanese food imports

The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, is set to ease restrictions on Japanese food imports, beginning 1 November 2012.

Import restrictions were imposed following an accident at the nuclear plant in Fukushima prefecture, which was caused due to the earthquake and tsunami that stuck the island nation on 11 March 2011.

In July 2012, EU maritime affairs and fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki noted that the commission was willing to ease restrictions as the risk from Japanese seafood had come down to nearly zero, reported Japantimes.co.jp.

In line with the latest regulations, the EU will lower the frequency of sample testing on Japanese food imports to 5% of the total volume.

Previously, the EU required Tokyo and 11 other prefectures to test food products before they were shipped; however, under the new regulations the 12 prefectures, with the exception of Fukushima, will now need to conduct tests only on certain items that are considered to pose safety risks, such as tea leaves and some varieties of mushrooms.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Environment Minister Hiroyuki Nagahama has announced a ten-item package of measures in order to accelerate the decontamination efforts in Fukushima prefecture.

As part of the measures, the Environment Ministry will give more power to the city of Fukushima to accelerate the decision-making process on decontamination efforts, and will coordinate closely with other ministries and agencies to develop detailed decontamination plans.

In addition, the ministry will publish on its website details of the decontamination efforts undertaken in each municipality and will also increase the screening of radioactive elements in natural flowing waters used by residents.