90% of imported foods still not inspected

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

90% of imported foods still not inspected

The Chinese government on March 26 notified Japan that Chinese police detained a suspect in the case of Chinese-made poisoned frozen dumplings which occurred between December 2007 and January 2008 in Japan. Ten Japanese required medical attention in this incident.

At that time, a total of only 334 inspectors were assigned to quarantine stations in Japanese ports and airports, allowing 90 percent of imported foods to be unchecked before reaching the Japanese market. The food sanitation inspection system remains vulnerable.

The Japanese Communist Party has been demanding that the government raise the inspection rate to more than 50 percent by drastically increasing the number of quarantine officers. The number of inspectors was increased by 30 but is still not enough, far from the need for a fundamental solution to the problem.

- Akahata, March 28, 2010