Singapore extends ban on Japanese food imports to Shizuoka Pref

SINGAPOR (Kyodo) - The Singapore government said Thursday it has added Shizuoka Prefecture to its growing list of Japanese areas from which fresh produce is not allowed to be imported into Singapore because of radioactive contamination.
The ban on imports of fruit and vegetables from Shizuoka was imposed after a shipment of Japanese mustard spinach or komatsuna from the prefecture was found Wednesday to be tainted with about six times the permissible limit of radioactive iodine-131.
''The Singapore government is following the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant very closely. It is continuing its measures to safeguard Singapore from radioactive contamination,'' a joint statement issued by several government ministries and agencies said.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore will extend its suspension of import of fruit and vegetables from Shizuoka with immediate effect, the statement said.
Since the Fukushima nuclear crisis began, Singapore has banned the import of fruit and vegetables, milk and milk products, seafood and meat from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma prefectures, and fruit and vegetables from Ehime, Chiba, Kanagawa, Tokyo and Saitama.
Since March 25 all fresh produce from Japan has to be tested to ensure it is free of radioactive contaminants before being sold in Singapore.