HK to prohibit food from five Japanese prefectures

Hong Kong will prohibit imports of Japanese food from five prefectures in Japan. They are Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba.

The Centre for Food Safety stated that the foods include milk, milk beverages, dried milk, vegetables, fruits, chilled or frozen game, meat and poultry, poultry eggs, and live, chilled or frozen aquatic products --- harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after March 11 from the said five prefectures.

Chilled or frozen game, meat and poultry, poultry eggs, and live, chilled or frozen aquatic products will be excluded from the ban if they are certified by the competent authority of Japan that the radiation levels do not exceed the standards laid down by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the Guideline Levels for Radionuclides in Foods Contaminated following a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency.

"A radioactive substance, Iodine-131, was detected in three samples, including a radish sample at 260 bq/kg and a turnip sample at 800 bq/kg from one batch, and a spinach sample at 1000 bq/kg, from two consignments of imported Japanese food by the CFS' Contamination Monitoring System and the Government Laboratory. The radiation levels of the three samples exceed the standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission," a CFS spokesman said.

Although consumption of the food will not pose immediate health risks, the CFS made the decision to safeguard food safety and public health.

"As for other processed food imported from Japan, for example, biscuits, candies, cakes and frozen confections, the CFS will continue to strengthen surveillance at the import level by conducting tests for radiation level," the spokesman added.