The government plans to expand testing for radioactive contamination to all fish imports as public concerns mount over leaks from the Fukushima plant in Japan, officials said.
The state-run National Fishery Products Quality Management Service said the government took the measure as consumers were avoiding fish and seafood for fear of radioactive contamination, dealing a blow to the nation’s fisheries industry.
“The government plans from this month to strengthen the radioactive contamination tests on all fish imports by the end of this year. In particular, tests for four fish imports ― mackerel, cuttlefish, tuna, and pollack ― will be strengthened,’’ the agency said in a press release. The four are the top fish imports from Japan.
The plan comes as public concerns over exposure to and intake of radiation from seafood imports remains high after Tokyo Electric Power Company, the Japanese operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, recently admitted that radioactive water has been leaking into the surrounding waters. The news that seafood contaminated by radiation leaks was found in Japanese markets recently escalated public concerns.
Early in August, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries tested 165 samples of 15 fish species. It said that 14 species tested were completely free of radiation while a “very small amount” of radioactive material was detected in tangleweed.
In a related development, Rep. Kim Jae-nam of the minor opposition Progressive Justice Party on Sunday urged the government to put a ban on Japanese fish imports until doubt over safety of those imports are cleared, based on a survey of 1,000 citizens aged 19 and older on the safety of Japanese fish imports.
According to the survey, 96.6 percent said they think Japanese fish products are not safe due to radiation leaks.
About 93 percent said the government’s policy response to Japanese fish imports is insufficient.
By Seo Jee-yeon (
jyseo@heraldcorp.com)
