The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore on Monday lifted a suspension of food imports from seven prefectures in Japan that had been imposed after the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011.
The AVA said in a statement on its website that it is resuming food imports from Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki, Gunma, Kanagawa, Saitama and Tochigi prefectures with immediate effect. With this move, only food imports from Fukushima Prefecture remains suspended.
It said the decision follows a review by the AVA and assurances from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the safety of food from Japan.
The move will allow milk and milk products, meat and meat products, eggs, seafood, fruits and vegetables from those seven prefectures to be imported into Singapore.
However, the lifting of suspensions comes with the condition that every consignment has to be accompanied by a certificate of origin and pre-export laboratory report, which certifies that the food has been tested for radioactivity and found to be free from radioactive contaminants.
It said it will continue to closely monitor food imports from Japan to ensure that they are free from radioactive contaminants. It assured that food imported from Japan that is available in Singapore is safe for consumption.