nuclear-news

Pakistan may ban Japan edible items, Senate told – 3 years too late!

…The scientists had advised the government after they detected high levels of Iodine from the consignments imported from Japan…. (in 2011)

[Arclight2011part2 note: I have made some small changes to the grammar of this article and will contact Kawar Klasra, the journalist, (to confirm I have not manipulated the meaning of the article) whose original article can be found on the link below ]

http://www.nation.com.pk/islamabad/18-Apr-2014/pakistan-may-ban-japan-edible-items-senate-told

ISLAMABAD  – Pakistan has cautioned it may impose a ban on the import of edible items from Japan if traces of radioactive material are found in them,
Federal Minister of Commerce Khurum Dastgeer Khan told the Senate on Thursday, who is currently the Minister of National Food Security and Research. He is tasked to conduct thorough research to determine if the edible items from Japan were/are affected by radioactive contamination or not.
“Concerned officials have been advised to investigate the matter relating to the import of edible items from Japan following the release of radioactivity in Japan. It is up to Ministry of Food Security and Research to advise Ministry of Commerce whether to continue the import of edible items from Japan or impose a ban on it,” Dastgeer told Senate in a written statement.
He was responding to question asked by Senator Suriya Amiruddin who was interested to know whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to impose a ban on the import of edible items from Japan so as to avoid the negative effect of radiation in those items.
Almost three years back in April 2011, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, had directed authorities dealing with Cargo arriving directly or indirectly from Japan to screen all types of consignments including edible/non-edible items, for radiation.
The directives were issued from the country’s well-reputed institution, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) following serious crisis of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. The PNRA made clearance mandatory for every consignment being imported from Japan.
It is worthy of mentioning here that country’s nuclear scientists had advised the federal government three years back to halt all types of goods from Japan to minimize the threat of radiation following the Fukushima Nuclear Crisis in Japan. The scientists had advised the government after they detected high levels of Iodine from the consignments imported from Japan.
Although India, Pakistan’s immediate neighbour, had banned imports from Japan following the Fukushima Nuclear Plant tragedy, the view that the move to ban imports from Japan could hurt bilateral relationship between the two friendly countries meant that the Pakistani government never imposed a ban on the import of goods from Japan.

April 20, 2014 - Posted by arclight2011part2 | Uncategorized