One month on from Fukushima and still no halt to Japanese food imports

“New Zealand must start halting food imports from Japan,” Green Party food spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

Ms Kedgley is repeating the call she made two weeks ago for the New Zealand Government to halt food imports from Japan as a precautionary measure. Ms Kedgley said radiation released from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is affecting the Japanese food supply and inevitably food Japan exports as well.

“New Zealand should be taking a precautionary approach to food and fish imported from affected provinces in Japan,” said Ms Kedgley.

“The crisis has been going on for over a month and our Government has done nothing to ensure that food we import from Japan is safe, in the face of the growing contamination problems.”

New Zealand imports fish from Japan, and processed food and beverages such as soy sauce.

“Our Government is doing nothing because it says it has confidence in Japan’s food safety authorities to manage the issue.

“Given the growing concern within Japan over the assurances of the Japanese Government, our Government’s stance seems naive at best, and foolhardy at worst,” said Ms Kedgley.

“Many other countries, including Australia, the USA, Singapore and Canada, have halted imports, or are testing Japanese food at the border to ensure it is not contaminated.

“It is time the New Zealand Government put our consumers first and followed suit.”