Japan banned rice exports from Fukushima

The Japanese government banned the export of rice produced in Fukushima, after the test results showed that the rice in this area contained radioactive cesium exceeding the safety level.

>>>Japan discovered the first case of highly contaminated rice

Nuclear experts in Japan conducted a test of this rice crop in the district of Onami, 60km from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Results showed that rice samples contained 630 becquerels of radioactive cesium / 1kg of rice, higher than the government-issued safety level of 630 becquerel / kg.

Radiation test on rice fields in Fukushima

According to the Guardian news agency, after the test results were announced, the Japanese government requested the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture, Yuhei Sato, to suspend all purchases of rice from 154 farms in the province.

This is the first time the Japanese government has banned the use of rice produced in Fukushima after the earthquake and tsunami disaster on March 11, 2011.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Osamu Fujimura, said: 'If we can confirm all the rice in a safe area for health, we will consider abolishing the ban on regional rice trade .' However, rice will be checked for radiation before circulation.

Onami district accounts for only 1.8% of Fukushima's total rice production. However, the discovery of radioactive substances in rice here prompted the Japanese government to temporarily ban all rice trading transactions throughout Fukushima.

This ban on trading may affect the supply of rice in Japan, because Fukushima is the fourth largest source of rice in Japan, supplying 440,000 tons of rice to the Japanese market in 2010.

In July this year, the Japanese government also banned all purchases of beef in Fukushima Prefecture after the meat of more than 500 cows eating grass was radioactive to other regions. The same ban applies to some vegetables and tea in areas near the Fukushima nuclear power plant.