Food Imports from Japan Suspended for Three Months

Import of food articles coming from Japan stand suspended with immediate effect for a period of three months or till such time as credible information is available that the radiation hazard has subsided to acceptable limits. Weekly reviews will be carried out by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The above advisory no 1/FSSAI/2011 is based on the discussion in a meeting held under the Chairmanship of P.I Suvrathan, Chairperson, FSSAI. A meeting was called by FSSAI to review the situation arising out of radioactive incidents in nuclear power plants in Japan and possible contamination of Japanese food being imported into India. After detailed discussions, it was concluded that since the radiation is spreading/expanding horizontally in other parts of Japan, it may result in further radioactive contamination in the supply chain of food exports from Japan.

Representatives/experts from Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT), Bhabha Atomic Research Institute (BARC), Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) and Shriram Institute for Industrial Research participated in the meeting.

[Source: PIB Press Release dated 5 April 2011]