III. Update on implementation of relevant measures to ensure food safety in response to discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima Nuclear Power Station
Strengthening testing work
Members were gravely concerned about the potential impact on food safety, marine ecology and the food chain arising from the continuous discharge of a large quantity of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean by the Japanese authorities for at least 30 years, and worried whether the HKSAR Government needed to step up testing on an on-going basis (e.g. by extending the scope of testing to imported food products from places other than Japan) and to put in more resources for such work. The Administration responded that to safeguard food safety, apart from banning the import of aquatic products from relevant metropolis/prefectures, CFS would also conduct comprehensive radiological tests on all Japanese aquatic products which were not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong. Such products would only be allowed to be supplied in the market after confirmation that they did not exceed the radiation levels. In addition, the Administration would step up testing of other imported Japanese food products and closely monitor relevant data to make timely adjustments to the response measures. In response to Members’ concern about the additional government expenditure arising from the enhanced testing, the Administration advised that the expenditure included about $6 million for the procurement of necessary equipment and about $3.8 million for relevant testing work.
Members enquired how the Administration would handle and follow up imported Japanese food products with unsatisfactory radiological testing results (if any). The Administration responded that if radiation levels of samples of imported Japanese food products were found to have exceeded the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s guideline levels, the Administration would dispose of the relevant consignment(s) of food products to prevent the products from entering the market, and would investigate into the causes of the excess radiation levels before considering whether it was necessary to further tighten the relevant import control measures.