March 18, 2011

EU to test radiation levels in Japanese imports

The EU has requested its members to test levels of radioactivity in food imports from Japan.

The advice was communicated to the 27 governments in the bloc through a rapid alert system for food and feed on Tuesday (15 Mar).

If traces of radiation over normal levels are found in certain products, the findings will be disseminated across the EU and imports will be capped.

However, as Japan's food and feed exports to Europe only amounted to EUR65 million (US$90.6 million) in 2010, it seems that the new measure will not have a major effect on trade between the two parties.