Health Ministry to closely inspect high-risk food products imported from Japan

The Ministry of Health will implement a Level 4 (Surveillance) inspection on high-risk food products imported from Japan. The inspections, specifically for radioactive content, will be conducted at international entry points into the country, according to Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan.

This decision comes after the Japanese authorities announced the planned release of Fukushima’s treated radioactive wastewater starting from August 24. Dr Muhammad Radzi stated that Japan had confirmed the release of the treated wastewater was in accordance with Japanese safety standards and had received approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on July 4. He also acknowledged that this issue has provoked various reactions from several countries around the Pacific Ocean.

Health Ministry data reveals that from 2022 to June 2023, fish and fish-based products were among the most imported products from Japan, followed by fruit, vegetable products, and processed food and beverages, with a total value of over RM880mil. Dr Muhammad Radzi also mentioned that radionuclide contamination is regulated under Regulation 37 of the Food Regulations 1985 in Malaysia.

Additionally, he highlighted that the Codex international standard has issued the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed, CXS 193-1995, as a guide for controlling radionuclide contamination in food. The Health Ministry, through the Food Safety and Quality Division, has monitored food products imported from Japan from May 2011 until April 2012 after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant incident caused by the Tohoku earthquake on March 11, 2011.

Dr Muhammad Radzi stated, “A special monitoring program was also conducted in 2019, where a total of 102 samples were analyzed, and none of them exceeded the specified limit.” He reassured the public that the Health Ministry is aware of consumers’ concerns regarding this issue and constantly conducts surveillance at international entry points and local markets to ensure food safety.

Treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will be gradually released into the Pacific Ocean starting from Thursday, August 24. The announcement by the Japanese government has led to angry responses from countries like China and South Korea, as well as partial import bans on Japanese seafood imposed by Hong Kong and Macau.