Iwate and Tochigi became the third and fourth prefectures ordered to stop all shipments of beef after radioactive cesium exceeding safety standards was detected in their meat.
Iwate and Tochigi became the third and fourth prefectures ordered to stop all shipments of beef after radioactive cesium exceeding safety standards was detected in their meat.
The government's nuclear emergency response headquarters, headed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, instructed Iwate Governor Takuya Tasso on Aug 1. to suspend all shipments of beef cattle from the prefecture.
The order to Tochigi Prefecture came on Aug. 2.
Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures have previously been told to halt all beef cattle shipments.
The conditions for lifting the suspension in Iwate are nearly the same as for Fukushima and Miyagi.
For livestock ranchers found to have shipped contaminated beef, the suspension will be lifted only for the meat of specific cattle deemed safe for human consumption after exhaustive tests.
For the other livestock ranchers, shipments may be resumed after a sample test of at least one animal from the ranch shows contamination far below the permissible level.
Iwate Prefecture's inspection system, however, needs improvement, officials say.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, only 78 food samples had been inspected in Iwate Prefecture as of July 31, much fewer than the 4,184 samples tested in Fukushima Prefecture and 366 samples in Miyagi Prefecture.
Iwate Prefecture may have to commission outside companies to perform the meat inspections.