Fish products from Japan must get health clearance, says Food Security Ministry

PETALING JAYA: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has emphasized that importers of fish products from Japan must follow specific procedures and regulations to ensure the safety of these products for consumption. According to a statement released on Monday (Aug 28), all import consignments must obtain an import permit from the Malaysian Quarantine Inspection Services Department (Maqis) and adhere to the conditions set forth by the Fisheries Department. Additionally, importers must also ensure that each consignment is accompanied by a health certificate issued by the Japanese authorities.

The ministry further stated that the Fisheries Department will take measures to ensure that live marine fish imported from Japan are free from radionuclide contamination. In order to ensure that fish products in the market are free from contaminants, the ministry, together with the Fisheries Department, the Fisheries Development Board, and Maqis, will work in cooperation with the Health Ministry.

These precautionary steps have been taken in response to concerns raised by various parties regarding the safety of fish products imported from Japan following the release of contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday (Aug 24). The Japanese government plans to discharge 1.3 million tonnes of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant over the next 30 years. This decision came after three reactors at the plant were damaged in the 2011 earthquake-triggered tsunami.

The announcement of the water release by the Japanese government has sparked strong reactions from China and South Korea, resulting in partial import bans on Japanese seafood by Hong Kong and Macau. Last Wednesday (Aug 23), the Health Ministry in Malaysia declared that high-risk food products imported from Japan would undergo Level 4 (Surveillance) inspections.

On Sunday (Aug 27), a mass petition titled “Raise Your Voice, Stop the Discharge of Nuclear Wastewater into the Ocean” took place at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Semenyih, Selangor. This event coincided with the annual Zhong Yuan enlightenment ceremony, which aims to honor ancestors, uphold filial piety, and pay tribute to the deceased. Similar petition drives are scheduled to take place at Nirvana Centre Kuala Lumpur on Sept 2 and 3, Nirvana Memorial Park in Klang on Sept 3, and in Shah Alam on Sept 9 and 10. Tens of thousands of Malaysians have already signed the petition, which will be presented to the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department has clarified that Malaysia imports frozen sardines and mackerel from Japan for consumption. However, live fish imports from Japan are limited to freshwater ornamental fish, such as Koi. The import of live fish only applies to ornamental freshwater species and does not include marine fish.