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NEW DELHI: The Indian government on Tuesday slapped a three-month ban on imports of food from Japan, amid fears of radioactive contamination from the country’s nuclear disaster.
A government statement said the ban could be extended until radiation fears subside. It was not immediately clear if the order was a blanket ban or applied only to shipments of produce from certain Japanese prefectures.
“Since the radiation is spreading/expanding horizontally in other parts of Japan, it may result in further radioactive contamination in the supply chain of food exports from Japan,” the Indian statement said.
Several countries, including China, Taiwan, Singapore and the United States, have banned some food imports from Japan over fears of radioactive contamination.
India imports small amounts of processed food, fruits and vegetables from Japan.
The decision was taken after “detailed discussions”, the government statement said.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will review potential radiation hazards on food articles coming from Japan on a weekly basis, the statement added.
More than three weeks after Japan's earthquake and tsunami, the crisis at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant northeast of Tokyo remains unresolved.
The plant's reactor cooling systems were knocked out, triggering explosions and fires.
The plant has sent radioactive material into the air, contaminating farm produce and drinking water. Radioactive water has seeped into the Pacific Ocean but officials stress there is no imminent health threat.
