Fukushima reduces radiation concerns with stricter regulations
One of the government’s
missions is to minimize fears of radioactive contamination stemming from
Fukushima’s nuclear disaster caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and
tsunami.
Fukushima Prefecture is very
rich in agriculture, and to overcome the negative image plaguing produce,
stricter safety standards have been introduced to ensure radiation levels in
food are well below maximum acceptable levels.
Japan’s standards for food
radiation levels are much stricter compared to the rest of the world. For
example, Japan allows only 10 becquerels per
kilogram of drinking water, 50 becquerels in milk, 50 becquerels in baby food
and 100 becquerels in general food. This compares to E.U. figures of 1,000
becquerels per kilogram of drinking water, 1,000 becquerels in dairy products,
400 becquerels in baby food and 1,250 becquerels in general food, according to
the Reconstruction Agency.
Additionally, the U.S. allows
1,200 becquerels per kilogram in all food. The Codex (an international
intergovernmental body created by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization
and World Health Organization) standard is 1,000 becquerels per kilogram for
both baby and general foods.
To increase food security of
Fukushima’s produce, the government is encouraging Fukushima farmers to acquire
Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) recognition.
Fukushima Prefecture hopes to
increase the number of GAPs from 77 to 361 by fiscal 2020.
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Source: the Japan Times