1. After the nuclear accident in Fukushima of Japan in 2011, what measures have been taken by Macao in regard to the inspection and quarantine of imported Japanese food products?
Subsequent to the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, Macao has been conducting risk assessment and monitoring of imported Japanese food products on an ongoing basis. According to the government announcement dated 15 July, 2011, the inspection of vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products imported from nine prefectures of Japan (Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama and Tokyo Metropolis) has been temporarily suspended. As for applications for the import of seafood and seafood products, meat of livestock and their products from these prefectures, they will only be considered unless provided with required supporting certificates and documents. The processing of all applications for inspection of food products imported from Fukushima prefecture is suspended temporarily.
 
On 4 October, 2019, the Administration Committee on Municipal Affairs of the Municipal Affairs Bureau passed a resolution on the management measures applicable to the import of Japanese food products into Macao. With the exception of Fukushima prefecture, application for the import of Japanese food products into Macao from the nine other prefectures (Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama and Tokyo Metropolis) shall only be accepted when the statement on radiation monitoring and certificate of origin issued by the Japanese authority are provided, in addition to meeting the existing requirements on sanitary certificate(s) for import. Besides, the imported Japanese food products are subject to inspection at the port of entry and shall only be allowed to enter Macao after passing the inspection.
 
2. How about food products which are not subject to mandatory inspection?
In addition to the merchandise listed in the table of Annex III of Chief Executive Writ of Instruction No. 255/2016, which is subject to mandatory inspection, for other food products imported to Macao, like candies, biscuits, snacks, beverages and instant noodles, their importers and suppliers are obliged to ensure the hygiene condition and safety of these food products in their production, storage, transportation, supply and that they are fit for human consumption. The Department of Food Safety of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) will collect samples of these products from the market for testing during its Routine Food Surveillance. In accordance with Law No. 5/2013 “Food Safety Law”, and the standards prescribed in Administrative Regulation No. 16/2014 “Maximum Limits of Radionuclides in Food”, the competent authority shall pursue legal responsibilities against entity or individual providing food products found in violation of the aforesaid provisions of law and regulation. If the circumstances of the violation constitute a criminal act, the offender is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for five years.
 
3. What are the further actions taken by IAM in monitoring radiation levels in food available in the local market?
Apart from routine inspection of imported food products, IAM maintains testing of radiation levels in food produced in and supplied by Japan in the local market. The testing in this respect is already part of the routine food tests conducted by the Department of Food Safety. So far, all tested food samples collected from the local market showed no abnormality in radiation levels. The results of the testing are published quarterly in the “Routine Food Surveillance Results” prepared by the Department.
Moreover, IAM adopts a series of preventive and control measures in accordance with Law No. 5/2013 “Food Safety Law”, as determined by the level and scope of risk to food safety. Such measures include removal of the problematic food products from shelves, marking them and keeping them aside, recall and ban on sale of the problematic food products. If the problematic food products are in violation of the standards prescribed in Administrative Regulation No. 16/2014 “Maximum Limits of Radionuclides in Food” and if the circumstances of the violation constitute a criminal act, the offender is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for five years.
 
4. Why are the food products from Japan which cannot enter the Mainland China’s market still available for sale in Macao?
The management measures applicable to food import vary from one region to another across the country, determined by the type of food products, the basis of their risk assessment, the geographic distance between the place where related food incident occurred and the region, the standards and criteria adopted by individual regions, market situation, public sentiments and the principle of fair trade. All these contribute to the difference in import control, which cannot be generalised for determining which approach is more stringent than the other. A wide range of factors of the region must be taken into account to make necessary adjustment in import policy to effectively protect the well-being of the residents.
Based on the resolution adopted by the Food Safety Coordination Group in 2011, import restrictions are imposed on food products from certain prefectures of Japan (Please refer to Question 1). Food products that are allowed for sale in the local market (e.g. pre-packaged food like candies, biscuits, snacks, beverages and instant noodles) have gone through rigorous risk assessment and are under continuous monitoring. Any potential risk to food safety is controllable via well-established and effective food surveillance.
IAM maintains testing of radiation levels in food products available in the local market and it is already part of the routine food tests conducted by the Department of Food Safety for enhancing protection of public health. The radionuclide testing of imported Japanese foodstuff since the Fukushima Nuclear Incident showed that no abnormality has been found in the tested samples. Moreover, the concerned authority will adopt a series of preventive and control measures in accordance with Law No. 5/2013 “Food Safety Law”, which are determined by the level and scope of risk to food safety. Such measures include recalling the problematic food products, prohibiting or restricting their production and use of the affected food products.
 
5. Concerning food products produced in Japan, what else should we pay attention to?
In general, the information about the term “製造者” (manufacturer) or “販売者” (seller) indicated on the pre-packaged food products from Japan refers to the registered address of the business (office), which is not the address of the manufacturing plant of the food products. The food manufacturing plant or processing plant is usually indicated as “製造所固有記号” (identification number of the manufacturing plant) which is a code number. Consumers may look up the address of the manufacturing plant by entering the code into the “search” box of the official website of the manufacturer of the concerned food product.
If members of the public have any opinions regarding the label of pre-packaged food products or related regulations, they may forward their opinions to the Economic and Technological Development Bureau or call the “Food Safety Hotline”. In the latter case, the Department of Food Safety of IAM will refer the opinions to the Economic and Technological Development Bureau for follow-up actions.
 
Advice to the trade:

• Maintain close contact with the competent authority and pay attention to information about food safety.
• Be cautious in selecting suppliers and be informed about the different stages in food production and operation.
• Upon receipt of goods, check the intactness of the packaging of food products and information on the food labels.
• In compliance with the laws and regulations of Macao, the food trade is required to provide easily visible and readable food labels with clear and accurate information for pre-packaged food products.