VietNamNet Bridge – Japanese import-export companies must ensure their food products were free from radioactivity before they were exported to Viet Nam, Director of the Ministry of Health's Food Safety and Hygiene Department Nguyen Cong Khan said on Wednesday.

"To control food possibly affected by radioactivity, we asked Japan's import-export companies to provide certificates of radioactive safety for their food, and they agreed with our proposal," Khan said.

Japanese products used to be favoured by Vietnamese people due to their high quality and safety. However, concerns have grown in Viet Nam, following the radioactive leak at the Fukushima power plant.

Khan said that Japanese products hadn't been completely banned because there was no evidence that they would be detrimental to consumer health.

Goods like meat, vegetables, fish and fresh milk produced in areas hit by radiation were not on the list of Viet Nam's imports, Khan said.

The Department was planning to run tests on Japanese goods imported to Viet Nam, Khan said, adding that the ministry would keep in close touch with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan to get updated information related to the Japanese Ministry of Health's advice regarding contaminated products.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News