AVA LIFTS SUSPENSION ON IMPORT OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES FROM EHIME PREFECTURE

SINGAPORE, April 14 (Bernama) -- Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of
Singapore has lifted the suspension of fruit and vegetable imports from Japan's
Ehime Prefecture with immediate effect.

In a statement Thursday, AVA said the suspension was imposed on March 24,
2011, after AVA detected radioactive contaminants from a sample of Perilla leaf
that was listed as imported from Ehime by the Japanese exporter.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan carried
out investigations and had since ascertained that the Perilla leaf sample was
from Fukushima Prefecture.

According to MAFF, the Japanese exporter of the contaminated Perilla leaf
sample had wrongly listed its origin to be Ehime Prefecture.

In addition, the MAFF and the Ehime Prefectural Authority said that other
Perilla leaf sampled from Ehime Prefecture had been tested and no radioactive
contaminants were detected.

"AVA is working with the Japanese authorities on a certificate of origin to
accompany products shipped to Singapore to avoid such irregularities in the
future," the statement added.