Egypt Halts Japanese Imports Due to Radiation Risk

The Egyptian cabinet has halted Japanese imports including food, produce, scrap metal, and used car parts because of the risk of radiation from these products following natural disasters that damaged Japan’s nuclear plants.

The second article of decision number 458 for 2011 stipulates that all products imported from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North Korea, and South Korea, must be subject to radiation inspection. Products shipped before the decision takes effect are exempt from the ban.

Agriculture Minister Ayman Farid Abu Hadid also tasked agricultural monitoring agents with monitoring quarantined animal and agricultural products in cooperation with agencies under other ministries.

Youssef Mamdouh Chalaby, an official who oversees animal products, said measures for monitoring fish and dairy imports from the Southeast Asian countries most affected by the nuclear radiation leak, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, North Korea, and South Korea, have been tightened.

These steps are intended to guarantee the safety of animal products and ensure they do not pose any threat to public health or the environment in Egypt. Chalaby said products imported from Japan are subject to radiation inspections at various ports before they enter the country. Samples are taken from the shipments and analyzed in radiation labs.