Under Secretary for Food & Health Prof Gabriel Leung says the Government will continue monitoring imported food from Japan for a long period as the half-life, or decay, of radioactive substances varies.
Speaking at a press conference today, Prof Leung said the ban imposed on dairy products, vegetables and fruit harvested or produced from March 11 in Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma and Fukushima Prefectures does not cover those already on the market and being served in restaurants.
He emphasised that food already on shelves and in restaurants is safe as the Government started radiation checks at ports 12 hours after the nuclear incident broke out on March 12.
He said when the ban can be removed depends on the radiation risk imposed by various substances. The half-life of the substances varies from eight days to 30 years.
He said the authority looks forward to the comprehensive risk assessment by the World Health Organisation as well as the environment measures set out by its expert group.
“We will not take the matter lightly. We have to monitor long-term, depending the half-life of respective substances. We will not consider removing the ban until we have a full package of evidence.”
