President Ma Ying-jeou says that new restrictions on imports of Japanese foodstuffs are a legal rather than a safety issue. Ma was speaking Thursday during a meeting with Murai Yoshihiro, governor of Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture.
Taiwan banned the import of food products from five Japanese prefectures, including Miyagi Prefecture in 2011. The ban came amid fears of radiation in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.
Ma said that scientific testing has proven the safety of food from the blacklisted areas. However, food products from areas covered by the ban were recently found on shelves in Taiwan with falsified place of origin labels. Ma said that this discovery frightened Taiwanese consumers and angered legislators, leading the government to tighten import regulations.
Beginning Friday, all imported Japanese food products must come with documentation proving their places of origin. Meanwhile, imports of seafood, tea leaves and baby food from certain areas of Japan will need to come with radiation safety certificates before they can clear Taiwan customs.
Ma said that the new regulations will protect the reputations of Japanese food manufacturers. He said that Taiwan will accept certification from Japan’s central government, local governments, or government-designated institutions.
Ma told Murai that Taiwan will ease import restrictions once the results of its investigation come in and the truth behind the false labeling scandal emerges.