Japan to issue origin certificate for all farm products for export+

TOKYO (Kyodo) - The government decided Thursday to issue certificates to identify producing districts for all Japanese farm products shipped overseas to allay overseas concern on their safety following radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, government officials said.
The plan was endorsed at a meeting of senior vice ministers of relevant government ministries and agencies at a time when a growing number of overseas consumers are distancing themselves from Japanese farm products due to the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima plant.
Various countries are also moving to restrict imports of agricultural products from Japan.
The European Union has been calling on Japan to issue such certificates of origin for its agricultural products.
The senior vice ministers also agreed on a plan to convey accurate information to foreign governments via Japanese embassies and other diplomatic missions to keep foreign consumers from demonstrating excessive reactions to the situation.
Although the nuclear crisis' effects on sales of Japan's manufactured products have been limited, the government is preparing to issue certificates of origin for those products in cooperation with the chambers of commerce and industry nationwide, they said.