MFDS, "Blocking Domestic Import of Radioactively Contaminated Japanese Seafood"

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 24th that it is blocking the import of Japanese seafood contaminated with radiation, even in trace amounts, through safety management of Japanese seafood.

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Since September 2013, the Ministry has banned the import of all seafood produced in eight prefectures around nuclear power plants, including Fukushima. The eight prefectures are Fukushima, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba. Seafood from regions outside these eight prefectures is also subjected to radiation testing with every import.

The inspection process for imported Japanese seafood consists of three stages: document inspection, on-site inspection, and detailed analysis. In the document inspection stage, importers submit an import declaration form to the Ministry, and inspectors review whether the declaration and accompanying documents are appropriate. At this time, they verify whether the seafood was produced in any of the eight banned prefectures, and if not, from which other region it originated. They also check whether the species, fishing area, processing, and packaging information listed on the import declaration match the information on the certificate of origin issued by the Japanese government. If the authenticity of the certificate of origin is in doubt, the Ministry reconfirms its validity through the Embassy of Japan in Korea.

The on-site inspection involves inspectors directly checking the condition of the seafood stored in warehouses. Following the random sampling method recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX), samples of seafood are collected and examined using the senses to assess appearance, color, vitality (freshness), and the presence of mixed similar seafood.

In the detailed analysis stage, the seafood is tested for radioactive substances and their levels. The collected seafood samples are cut into small pieces and ground very evenly in a grinder. Using a high-purity germanium detector, radioactive substances are measured for 2 hours and 47 minutes (10,000 seconds). If radioactive substances are detected even in trace amounts (0.5 Bq/kg or more), which are below the standard limit (Cesium 100 Bq/kg), importers are required to provide certificates for 17 additional radionuclides recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, effectively preventing the seafood from entering the country. Korea has set radiation standards more than ten times stricter than international standards.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.