SAUSALITO, CA (ASRN.ORG) -- The United States became the first nation to block produce from Japan's radiation zone, saying on Wednesday it will halt milk, vegetable and fruit imports from areas near the tsunami-damaged nuclear plant because of contamination fears.
Food makes up 1% Japanese exports, according to World Bank data.
Following are steps countries have taken to test or block Japanese food imports:
SINGAPORE
Singapore has suspended the import of milk, meat and produce from areas near the crippled nuclear power plant due to radiation contamination, a government agency said.
The import ban from the four prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma covers milk, milk products, fruits and vegetables, seafood and meat, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore said.
AUSTRALIA
Australia's government is set to restrict food imports from areas near the nuclear power plant, but said the risk to consumers was negligible due to the limited amounts being brought in.
Australia's regulator Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) said on its website that it was a "precautionary measure, and consistent with approaches internationally."
CANADA
Canada intensified safety inspections of food imported from four provinces near the reactors to make sure it has not been contaminated with radiation.
Milk, fruit and vegetables from the area will require documents verifying their safety before it can be allowed into Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said.
GERMANY
Germany has started extra checks on Japanese food imports to ensure they are free from radioactivity, Germany's Agriculture and Consumer Protection Ministry said on Wednesday.
No suspect food has yet been found.
FRANCE
France has started testing for the level of radioactivity of all fresh food products from Japan, such as shellfish and fish, there had been no direct imports from Japan into France since the earthquake, the farm ministry said on Tuesday.
A ban on food imports is not envisioned unless a test proves positive.
BRITAIN
Britain said it is screening food imports from Japan, mainly fish and shellfish, for the presence of radioactive material. No contaminated food has yet been found.
NETHERLANDS
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority said it has started extra checking Japanese food imports for radiation. These checks will be implemented at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam port, Europe's biggest.
At this stage, no contaminated food has been found in the Netherlands.
CHINA
Monitoring food imported from Japan for signs of radiation.
HONG KONG
Bans food and milk products from five prefectures in Japan after samples of turnip and spinach showed contaminants 2.6 to 10 times over the permissible limit.
MALAYSIA
Testing all consignments from Japan. Health Ministry is monitoring the situation daily but has no plans to ban so far.
PHILIPPINES
Not recommending any ban on food imports from Japan but will continue to conduct random tests for radiation.
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