Multiple merchants have been fined for selling food in the nuclear radiation zone! Consumers should pay attention to this when purchasing imported food from Japan → Agricultural products | Food | Consumers
On July 7th, the General Administration of Customs announced that in order to prevent the export of Japanese food contaminated by radiation to China and protect the safety of imported food, Chinese customs prohibited the import of food from ten counties including Fukushima in Japan. Food from other regions of Japan, especially aquatic products, was strictly reviewed and accompanied by proof documents, and 100% inspection was implemented.
What are the "risky" imported products related to Fukushima nuclear wastewater in Japan? How can consumers identify such products?
Beijing Daily reporters have noticed that as early as 2011, China began to implement entry management for Japanese imported food that may be affected by nuclear pollution, such as Fukushima Prefecture. The National Bureau of Quality Supervision and Inspection issued a notice prohibiting the import of some Japanese food and agricultural products, which clearly stated that the import of dairy products, vegetables and their products, fruits, aquatic animals, and aquatic products from Fukushima Prefecture, 栃 ki Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture in Japan is prohibited.
The announcement requires strengthening the detection of the concentration of radioactive substances in other food and agricultural products produced in these regions for export to China, monitoring and risk analysis of food and agricultural products produced in other regions of Japan for export to China, and strictly preventing the import of food and agricultural products contaminated with radioactive substances.
In the same year, the General Administration of Quality Supervision and Quarantine of Japan issued a notice on further strengthening the inspection and quarantine supervision of imported food and agricultural products from Japan. The first article of the notice has stricter regulations on the regional scope. In addition to the above-mentioned areas, it is also necessary to prohibit the import of food, edible agricultural products, and feed from Miyagi Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo Prefecture and other prefectures in Japan.
At the same time, food imported from Japan should not pass through 10 prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo City, Chiba Prefecture, etc. The origin of the products, the origin of the main processing materials, the transportation method and route from the production area to the shipping location and destination in China, the transportation route from the origin of the processing materials to the processing plant, and the address of the processing plant must be marked in the certificate of origin issued by the Japanese government.
The reporter noticed that according to the Tianyancha app, recently, Huiyanghang Department Store Co., Ltd. in Shunde District, Foshan City was listed as a serious illegal and dishonest enterprise due to the production and operation of food that is explicitly prohibited by the state for disease prevention and other special needs. In May of this year, the company was fined 10000 yuan by regulatory authorities for selling "Fujioka White Peach Beverage" purchased from Nagano Prefecture, "ORIHIRO Konjac Jelly" produced from Gunma Prefecture, Japan, and "Bourbon Soy Milk Wafer Biscuits" produced from Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Since the beginning of this year, multiple businesses have been fined for selling imported food from Japan's nuclear radiation zone. Among them, Chengdu Shenle Town Catering Co., Ltd. was fined 30000 yuan for selling "Daqi liquor" from Fukushima Prefecture in the nuclear radiation zone of Japan; Yiqiling Snack Shop in Xishan District has been confiscated of illegal property for selling Longjiao Sanbai Peach flavored Sandwich Candy and Mint flavored Sandwich Candy originating from Tokyo, Japan; The commemorative coffee shop in Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone was fined 10000 yuan for selling whiskey produced in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Screenshot of punishment information for Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone Memorial Day Cafe
According to the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, imported food should comply with the national food safety standards in China. The reporter noticed that last year the People's Court of Jining High tech Industrial Development Zone publicly announced the verdict of an imported food case.
On April 26, 2022, the plaintiff Gu purchased a bag of "Senyong Taifei Sugar" from the defendant's company's store "Chenhai Food Store" in Guangdong through the Pinduoduo shopping platform. The delivery address was "a certain community in the High tech Zone of Jining City, Shandong Province", and the payment was 15.2 yuan. Plaintiff Gu presented a bag of "Morinaga Toffee" in court. The outer packaging of the product was all marked in Japanese, without Chinese labels and instructions, and there was no legal import or proof of entry and exit inspection and quarantine in China in the product packaging. The product was produced by Morinaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and the place of production was Koyama City, Kochigi Prefecture, Dazhikoi 1523-1. Gu sued the company in question, and the court ruled that Gu could request a refund, return, and ten times compensation. In this case, the plaintiff sued Gu for a compensation of 1000 yuan, which was supported by the court.
Experts suggest that consumers should choose businesses with a business license, food business license, high market reputation, and stable business status when purchasing imported food from Japan, and keep their consumption vouchers properly. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to whether imported food has Chinese labels, whether the content indicated on the Chinese labels is complete, and pay attention to the origin of the purchased food. If consumers find that the origin of the food they purchased is a prohibited area, they can retain relevant evidence and report it to the market supervision department to protect their own rights.
