Import of Food and Feed from Japan

The European Union has introduced a Regulation imposing special conditions governing the import of feed and food originating in or consigned from Japan following the accident at the Fukashima nuclear power station. The Regulation applies to all feedstuffs and foodstuffs originating in or consigned from Japan with the exclusion of products which left Japan before 28th March or which have been harvested and/or processed before 11 March 2011.

Commission Implementing Regulation EU No 961/2011 imposing special conditions governing the import of feed and food originating or consigned from Japan following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power station repeals and replaced Commission Regulation 297/2011. Note: Note: Amendments to Commission Implementing Regulation EU No 297/2011 i.e. Commission Implementing Regulation EU No 351/2011; Commission Implementing Regulation 506/2011and Commission Implementing Regulation EU No 657/2011are also repealed.

The Regulation applies to all feedstuffs and foodstuffs originating in or consigned from Japan with the exclusion of products which left Japan before 28th March or which have been harvested and/or processed before 11 March 2011.

This Regulation requires:

  • All food of animal origin is to be introduced through a Border Inspection Post (BIP).
  • All food of non-animal origin and feed is to be introduced through a Designated Point of Entry (DPE - as defined by Regulation 669/2009).
  • Each consignment must be accompanied by a declaration that the product was either:
    • 1. Harvested and/or processed before 11 March 2011
    2. Originated in pr consigned from a prefecture other than Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Miyagi, Nagano, Yamanashi, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanawaga and Shizuoka or
    3. Consigned from the prefectures of Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Miyagi, Nagano, Yamanashi, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanawaga and Shizuoka but does not originate in one of those prefectures and has not been exposed to radioactivity during transiting, or
    4. Originated in the prefectures of Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Miyagi, Nagano, Yamanashi, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanawaga and Shizuoka and the product does not contain levels of radionuclides iodine-131, caesium-134 and caesium-137 above the maximum levels provided for in Annex II to this Regulation. This applies to products harvested or caught in the coastal waters of those prefectures irrespective of where these products were landed.
  • There is a model of the declaration set out in Annex I to this Regulation. It must be signed by an authorised representative of the Japanese competent authorities.
  • In addition, products from the prefectures in point 4 above must be accompanied by an analytical report containing the results of sampling and analysis.
  • Each consignment must have a unique identifying code to be indicated on all relevant accompanying documents i.e. the declaration form, on the analysis report (where this is required) on the sanitary certificate or on any commercial documents
  • Prior notification must be given to the competent authority at least 2 working days before arrival at BIP / DPE
  • Documentary and identity checks must be carried out on all consignments at the BIP/ DPE
  • Physical checks must be carried out on 10% of products originating from the prefectures in and around the nuclear plant including laboratory analysis on the presence of iodine-131, caesium-13 and caesium-137(point 4 above)
  • Physical checks must be carried out on 20% of products originating from an area other than the prefectures in and around the nuclear plant (points 2 & 3 above)
  • Consignments must be kept under official control for a maximum of 5 working days pending the availability of results of laboratory analysis
  • Release for free circulation is subject to the presentation by the food or feed business operator / representative to the customs authorities of the declaration endorsed by the competent authority at the BIP / DPE giving evidence that the required controls have been carried out and the results of any physical checks carried out were satisfactory.
  • Costs for official controls arising from this Regulation must be borne by the FBO.
  • Foods not in compliance with the maximum levels set out in Annex II to the Regulation shall not be placed on the market and must be safely disposed of or returned to the country of origin.
  • All results must be notified to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the European Union’s Urgent Radiological Information Exchange System (ECURIE) on a monthly basis.
  • The Regulation will apply until 31st December 2011 and will be reviewed monthly.

Competent authorities:

Food of non-animal origin other than for pesticide residues: Health Service Executive. They can be contacted at: porthealth@hse.ie, Telephone: 00353(0) 1 8098300.

Food of animal origin: Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. They can be contacted at: Food Safety Liaison Unit, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Telephone: 00353(0) 1 6072896.

Feed: Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. They can be contacted at:
feedimports@agriculture.gov.ie  
Telephone: 00 353(0) 1 5058892
Fax: 00353(0) 1 6275935
or
John.canny@agriculture.gov.ie  
Telephone: 00 353(0)1 5058772
Fax: 00 353(0)1 6275955


 

Last reviewed: 21/11/2011

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