Japan has been forced to put off resuming beef exports to the United States until the island nation can ensure that proper measures are sufficient in detecting radioactive materials in food after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Specifically, US officials want to know how Japan is inspecting the beef, and managing and storing feed in order to prevent radioactive contamination from entering the food supply.

Officials from Japans’ Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have attempted to downplay the situation pointing out that the beef sold for domestic consumption does not contain radioactive substances above the state limit. The Japanese officials say they will pressure their American counterparts to accept the Japanese beef quickly. Vietnam, Hong Kong and the U.S. were the biggest markets for Japanese beef in the year through March 2010.

In 2011, beef which contained cesium exceeding government standards was discovered to have been was sold to consumers, and also exported before being detected and pulled off of the shelves. the Japanese Government has been criticized by experts and international officials for not taking appropriate measures to prevent contamination from entering food products.

Source: JiJi Press

Source: NHK

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