Radioactive materials found in Japanese bird feed

SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- Traces of radioactive materials have been detected in bird feed imported from Japan, though the concentration levels are below permissible levels, the government said Monday.
South Korea began checking animal feed imported from Japan for radioactive containments from March 29 onwards, after the Fukushima nuclear power station started releasing radioactive materials into the environment in mid-March. As of last week, 52 shipments totaling 390.3 tons of feed have been checked.
The farm ministry said the 2.5 tons of feed for flamingos was brought in from Japan's Chiba Prefecture on Thursday. It said concentration levels for radioactive cesium reached 3.5 becquerel (Bq) per kilogram of feed with numbers for iodine topping 1.6 Bq.
These are much lower than the 370 Bq and 300 Bq limits set for the two radionuclides, and should pose no real risks for birds or the environment. The minimum standard for feed is based on levels permitted for food consumed by humans since there is no separate requirement set for animal feed.
"Because levels were too small, the shipment has cleared the radiation screening process although it is still being held in customs to check for other harmful materials," a farm ministry official said. He said that if no other contaminants are found, the feed shipment should reach the market within the week.
The latest discovery follows the detection of small amounts of radioactive particles in clams from Japan last week and fish feed imported on April 5. Clams were allowed through customs, but the fish feed was rejected.
Currently, South Korea only bans animal feed imports from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma prefectures that are near the nuclear disaster site. Products from other areas undergo detailed screening for radioactive contaminants.
yonngong@yna.co.kr