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KUCHING, Aug 24: No live marine fish are being imported from Japan at the moment, says Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen.
Dr Yii, who is a special advisor to Ministry of Health (MOH) Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, said this based on a report from Department of Fisheries (DOF) Malaysia.
“For other non-live fishery products from Japan, both ministries and other relevant authorities such as the Department of Malaysian Quarantine Inspection Services (MAQIS) and Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) are constantly monitoring food safety issue levels including checks on health certifications and radiation during post import,” he said in a statement today.
According to Dr Yii, who is also Bandar Kuching MP, through MOH, “high-risk” food imports from Japan will be subject to Level 4 (surveillance) examination to screen for radioactive elements as the island nation moves to release water from its troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
He also said that this is something MoH through the ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Division has done in an event of possible risk including monitoring Japanese food imports from May 2011 to April 2012 following an earthquake that led to a triple meltdown of the power plant.
“I understand some of the anxieties and even concerns raised by public even to me and that is why in order to address this concern, the ministry is committed to constantly monitoring national entry points and local markets to ensure food safety is guaranteed.
“While I respect the choice of the consumer whether to be cautious with their purchase, but the ministries including MOH and MAFS are on high alert to ensure food supplied to Malaysia are safe for consumption,” he added.
On Tuesday (Aug 22), Japan Prime Minister Fumiio Kishida announced that radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant will be released into the Pacific ocean on Aug 24, despite criticism.
The released was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN nuclear watchdog in July. — DayakDaily.
