March 31, 2011
 

EU tightens controls on imports of Japanese feed

 

 

The EU is tightening controls on imports of feed from certain areas of Japan where output could be affected by the mishap at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

 

This is to restrict potential risks to the safety of its food chain.

 

Member States sanctioned, at a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), a commission proposal to impose unique import conditions. The measures apply to all feed and food originating in or consigned from 12 prefectures of Japan, (Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi, Saitama, Tokyo and Chiba) including the four most affected by the accident.

 

All products from these prefectures have to be tested before leaving Japan and will be subject to random testing in the EU. Feed and food products from the other 35 prefectures will have to be accompanied by a statement containing the prefecture of origin and will be randomly tested upon arrival in the EU. The EU will evaluate these measures every month.

 

In particular, each batch of food or feed from the 12 prefectures must be followed by a declaration by the Japanese authorities that the product does not hold levels of radionuclides that pass the EU's maximum permitted levels. The Commission rules make specific reference to iodine-131, caesium-134 and caesium-137.

 

Importers must also inform the national competent authorities two days before the arrival of each batch of food and feed from Japan. Feed and food products that were harvested or processed before March 11 are not included in the provisions of this regulation. Nonetheless, these products from all of Japan's territory would have to be followed by a declaration stating clearly that they were harvested or processed before March 11.

 

With regards to food and feed harvested or produced after March 11, the measures provide that on arrival in the EU, the competent authorities of the Border Inspection Posts (BIP) or of the batch's Designated Point of Entry (DPE) will carry out document and identity checks on all food and feed batches from Japan; physical checks, including laboratory analysis, will be carried out on not less than 10% of the batches of food or feed coming from 12 prefectures mentioned above; and physical checks will also be conducted on not less than 20% of the consignments coming from the other 35 prefectures.

 

While awaiting the availability of the test results, products shall be kept under official control for a maximum of five working days. The batches will be released when the importer presents to the custom authorities the positive results of the official controls mentioned above.

 

Products that are found to pass the maximum permitted levels shall not be put on the market and will either be safely disposed of or returned to Japan.

 

The EU Commission said that at the moment, there is no evidence of risk for EU consumer from increased radiation levels in feed products imported from Japan. However, they have reinforced measures so as to further limit any potential risks to its food chain.

 

Japan is authorised to export to the EU only four products of animal origin, namely: fishery products; bivalve molluscs; casings; petfood. In 2010, the total worth of agricultural products imported to the EU from Japan was at EUR187 million (US$266 million) for agricultural products and EUR18 million (US$25.6 million) for fishery products.