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198572
Mon, 08/01/2011 - 17:17
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https://oananews.org//node/198572
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Japan plans 2-phase radiation tests on rice
TOKYO, Aug. 1 Kyodo -
The farm ministry plans to conduct two-phase radiation tests on rice after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and resulted in radiation leaks, ministry officials said Monday.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries intends to first conduct sampling tests on rice before this year's harvesting in a wide range of regions to narrow down areas for second-phase tests on harvested rice, ministry officials said.
In the sampling tests, inspectors will measure radioactive cesium levels in unmilled rice in each region. If rice is found contaminated with radioactive cesium exceeding the government-set allowable limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram in a region, the ministry may ban all farmers in that region from shipping rice.
If radioactive cesium levels are below but close to the limit in a certain region, the region will be subjected to radiation tests on rice after harvesting.
Radiation tests on wheat have been done in 14 prefectures. The ministry plans to conduct sampling tests on rice over a wider range of prefectures in response to growing fears among consumers after radioactive contamination of beef cattle was found in many prefectures.
At least 18 prefectures plan to conduct radiation tests on rice, including Chiba, the ninth largest rice producer last year among Japan's 47 prefectures, which intends to start sampling tests in almost all of its districts as early as this week.
Other prefectures set to test rice include Akita, Aomori, Miyagi, Fukushima, Tokyo, Shizuoka and Kyoto.
In April, the ministry prohibited farmers in Fukushima Prefecture from planting rice in areas near the nuclear plant, based on tests on their rice paddies.
The farm ministry plans to conduct two-phase radiation tests on rice after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and resulted in radiation leaks, ministry officials said Monday.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries intends to first conduct sampling tests on rice before this year's harvesting in a wide range of regions to narrow down areas for second-phase tests on harvested rice, ministry officials said.
In the sampling tests, inspectors will measure radioactive cesium levels in unmilled rice in each region. If rice is found contaminated with radioactive cesium exceeding the government-set allowable limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram in a region, the ministry may ban all farmers in that region from shipping rice.
If radioactive cesium levels are below but close to the limit in a certain region, the region will be subjected to radiation tests on rice after harvesting.
Radiation tests on wheat have been done in 14 prefectures. The ministry plans to conduct sampling tests on rice over a wider range of prefectures in response to growing fears among consumers after radioactive contamination of beef cattle was found in many prefectures.
At least 18 prefectures plan to conduct radiation tests on rice, including Chiba, the ninth largest rice producer last year among Japan's 47 prefectures, which intends to start sampling tests in almost all of its districts as early as this week.
Other prefectures set to test rice include Akita, Aomori, Miyagi, Fukushima, Tokyo, Shizuoka and Kyoto.
In April, the ministry prohibited farmers in Fukushima Prefecture from planting rice in areas near the nuclear plant, based on tests on their rice paddies.
