No need to ban Japan products yet, DOH says

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Health yesterday said there is no need to ban food products from Japan yet because products coming from there do not pose threats of radiation poisoning.  “We have been cognizant of the danger related to the nuclear problem in Fukushima. There is no danger of any (contaminated) product, at the moment, entering the Philippines,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona said in a press briefing.                                    

He said samples of rice, noodles, chocolate, and biscuits from Japan tested by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) contained safe levels of radiation.                   

In the Philippines, there are 20 importers of food products from Japan and 243 registered foodstuffs.                                        

In testing the products, the PNRI adopted the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission created in 1963 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to develop food standards and guidelines.      

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deputy director Nazarita Tacandong said they would determine if the companies import products from prefectures affected by radiation leak such as Ibaraki, Gunma and Togichi.                      

“We want to know if there are shipments coming in, when they are arriving, when those products were manufactured, the place of manufacture and the volume of production. If possible, they have to show us certificate of analysis to show that those products are not contaminated,” Tacandong said.                     

There have been reports that the Bureau of Animal Industry had banned the importation of chocolates from Japan. Tacandong said they would coordinate with the agency to clarify the reports.                                                                                 

“The FDA or the Department of Health has not banned any products coming from Japan. DA (Department of Agriculture) is on fresh meat, vegetables and fruit while FDA (is in charged with processed foods),” she said. 

In a joint statement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the FAO and WHO said Japan has ordered restriction on the sale and consumption of milk, komatsuna, cabbage, brocoli, spinach and cauliflower.

The milk and produce were found to contain high concentrations of radioactive iodine.

Aside from food imports contaminated with radiation, another concern is the free entry of passengers from Japan possibly contaminated with radiation.

Last Tuesday, Dr. Wenceslao Llauderes recommended the placing of radiation scanners at airports. He recommended that passengers found contaminated with radiation should be placed under quarantine for eight days until the radiation wanes through perspiration and urination.

The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) said the Philippines does not have portal radiation screening machines that can be used to test the incoming passengers.

BOQ director Edgar Sabitsana said there is still no need for those.

“There is still no medical basis that we should be doing radiation screening (at the airports),” he said. “When they come here, they have been decontaminated (in Japan)... In the first place, the external contamination (can be found on) clothing and hair. Once you change your clothes or you take a shower, radiation will disappear.” - With Pia Lee-Brago