In recent years, the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and the discharge of the nuclear wastewater have raised global concerns. Although the date and details of the discharge are yet to be confirmed, the discharge of the nuclear wastewater into the ocean poses potential threat to marine life and to food safety. As Japanese food is popular in Macao, an important tourist destination and business city, we have to pay attention to the safety of the food from Japan, and make sure the food we consume is safe and healthy.
Current regulatory framework in Macao for imported Japanese food
Since the nuclear accident occurred in Fukushima, Japan in 2011, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has adopted stringent risk management measures to monitor the levels of radionuclides in imported food. A mechanism of dual defense check implements is in place to ensure food safety. The levels of radionuclides in food are closely monitored at both import and retail levels to ensure the imported Japanese food products in Macao are safe for consumption.
At import level, the processing of applications for import of fresh and live food or animal-derived food products from Fukushima prefecture of Japan is still suspended. Therefore, there are currently no seafood and food products from Fukushima sold in the local market. Additionally, applications for import of fresh and live food or animal-derived food products from nine other prefectures of Japan, namely Chiba prefecture, Tochigi prefecture, Ibaraki prefecture, Gunma prefecture, Miyagi prefecture, Niigata prefecture, Nagano prefecture, Saitama prefecture and Tokyo, shall only be accepted when a statement on radiation monitoring and a 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.
At retail level, IAM continues to carry out testing of radiation levels in the Japanese food supplied to Macao and sold in the local market, in addition to the routine inspection of imported food. So far, all tested food samples have met food safety standards and no abnormalities have been detected.
Food safety standards established to ensure food safety
Radioactive contamination in food is one of the significant factors affecting the safety of food products. In 2014, the Macao SAR Government enacted Administrative Regulation No. 16/2014 “Maximum Limits of Radionuclides in Food” to protect the health of the public. It established the maximum permissible limits of radionuclides in food to facilitate the monitoring and assessment of radionuclides in food imported from regions affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident. Moreover, in accordance with Law No. 5/2013 “Food Safety Law”, IAM may adopt a series of preventive and control measures, including removal from shelves, recall, sealing, and even ban on sale of the concerned food products, as determined by the level and extent of risks posed by these food products. If the problematic food products are in violation of the standards prescribed in “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.
IAM will continue to follow up on the development of the issue and shall not rule out the possibility of adjusting current inspection measures as necessary. It will also extend the coverage of food safety testing of imported food products and those sold in the local market, while stepping up radiation testing of imported Japanese food products.
Relevant Information
【Administrative Measures】Management measures applicable to import of Japanese food products into Macao
【Food Safety Standards】Administrative Regulation No. 16/2014: “Maximum Limits of Radionuclides in Food” (chinese version)
【Popular Science of Food Safety】Radionuclides Contamination and Food Safety
