Gov't won't block food imports from Japan

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine health officials said today that there is still no reason to ban the entry of food imports from Japan.

In a press briefing before noon today, Health Secretary Enrique Ona allayed fears of radiation contamination from the imported food products, while assuring the public that they continuously monitor the entry of foodstuffs from Japan.

Ona said that 243 registered products coming in from Japan will be subjected to random sampling. Workers from the Philippine National Research Institute will be getting samples from various wet markets and supermarkets in the country.

“We are monitoring the entry of imported products from Japan on a daily basis,” he said. He also cited that there is no need for radiation screening from any traveler that came from Japan.

“As of now, Japanese food products are not dangerous,” he pointed out.

The United States is the first nation to block the import of Japanese farm and milk products, especially those in the Fukushima area, where the ongoing nuclear crisis occurs.

South Korea mulled at blocking the entry of food imports from Japan, also because of possible radiation contamination.

Australia also ordered the prevention of entry of some Japanese products but cited that the move was merely “a precautionary measure” and in consistent with the international protocols”.

Singapore has likewise reported of finding low levels of radiation in some vegetable samples from Japan. It has already stopped imports of milk, meat and related products from the affected area.

Hong Kong has also ordered the ban of food imports from areas near the Fukushina nuclear power plant.

Mainland China, Canada and Russia have all taken the same measures. (With AP)