More countries, particularly in Asia, are introducing or expanding radiation checks on food imports from Japan, where fears are mounting over potential contamination from a nuclear power plant crippled by last week's earthquake.
More countries, particularly in Asia, are introducing or expanding radiation checks on food imports from Japan, where fears are mounting over potential contamination from a nuclear power plant crippled by last week's earthquake.
The nuclear disaster is certain to cause serious damage to the international reputation Japanese food products have earned for their high quality and flavor.
China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has told local inspection and quarantine authorities to analyze the risks of radioactive material being brought into China and carefully monitor imports for such possibilities.
The unfolding nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has delivered a heavy blow to the Japanese government's efforts to ramp up food exports to China.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano has been forced to postpone his planned trip to China, where he was to promote Japanese rice exports.
A Japanese diplomat in Beijing said, "We must prevent rumors from spreading, as they could do serious damage to the image of Japanese food products, which have earned a high reputation among Chinese consumers for their safety."
The authorities in Hong Kong, which is the largest overseas market for Japanese food products and materials and claims a quarter of exports, have responded quickly to consumers' safety concerns.
On Saturday, the day after the quake hit northeastern Japan, Hong Kong's quarantine authority announced that radiation inspections would be stepped up for imports such as milk, vegetables and fruits.
In Taiwan, the third-largest overseas market for Japanese food after Hong Kong and the United States, the island's nuclear commission on Monday decided to expand its radiation inspection of imports.
The panel has sharply increased the frequency of radiation checks, from 20 samples once every two months to 20 samples every day. People are reportedly buying up expensive fruit and processed food that was imported from Japan before the disaster occurred, apparently in expectation of short supplies.
South Korea has also stepped up its radiation checks on fruit, vegetables, and animal and seafood products from Japan.
The Thai government is considering random inspections at Japanese restaurants in the country, in addition to the sample inspections at customs clearance that it began on Wednesday.
The Indian government has also ordered its quarantine authority to inspect Japanese foods for radioactivity, according to an Indian newspaper.
Concerns are also growing about radioactive material that could be carried around on human bodies.
The airport quarantine authority in Dalian, a Chinese industrial city in Liaoning province where many Japanese companies have based their operations, has increased radiation checks on the bodies and baggage of people who have arrived from Japan.
Taiwanese airports and South Korea's Incheon International Airport have installed equipment to measure radiation for worried passengers arriving from Japan.
At Taiwan's two airports--Taipei Songshan Airport, where flights from Tokyo's Haneda airport arrive, and Taoyuan International Airport, which receives flights from Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture--radiation slightly above the safety standards was detected on five passengers on Tuesday night and Wednesday. Their clothes and belongings were washed with a special detergent, but it is not clear whether the radiation level detected was caused by the nuclear accident in Japan.