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ANSWERS |
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1. What is the situation of food import from Japan to Singapore?
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Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has announced that food imported from Japan on sale in the market is safe for consumption as shown by the results of AVA’s “hold-and-test” surveillance carried out based on the Codex Guidelines. Through the same surverillance, AVA has suspended the following Japanese food products affected by the events that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant;
- Milk, daily products, fishery products, meat, fruits and vegetables from Fukushima, Ibaraki and Tochigi Prefectures
- Fruits and vegetables from Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama Prefectures and Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
For more information, please refer to this website. |
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2. If you are planning to visit Japan...
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a.Is there any restriction for visit?
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The Government of Japan has not imposed any travel restrictions to Japan. However, visitors are advised to refrain from visiting severely damaged areas due to the destruction of necessary services and the ongoing disaster relief activities. It is also announced that travelling within the exclusive specified zones surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is currently prohibited. Relevant international organizations such as IAEA, WHO, ICAO have announced that there is currently no medical basis for imposing restrictions on visiting Japan.
For more information, please refer to the following websites.
World Health Organization (WHO)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Situation of Japanese Air Transport
Situation of Ports and Maritime Transport
Japan Travel Update (The Map of Japan) |
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b. How is the situation of transport?
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Transport networks, such as roads, railways, airports and ports, have steadily recovered day by day. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, ground transportation, including bus services, is operating without constraints, but rail travel may still need some time to make changes to timetables on some routes affected by planned power outage. In the disaster affected areas, most major highways including expressways have opened. Tohoku Shinkansen has resumed full service on 29th April and most regular rail lines have also resumed operation. For aviation, all airports are open and operating. For maritime transport, every ports are open and operating within certain limitations.
For more information, please refer to this website.
For train status information of JR-East, please refer to this website. |
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c. Is tap water safe?
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Tap water can be used for washing hands and bath without any concern. Tap water is drinkable too.
Radioactive substances in tap water are monitored daily.
For more information, please refer to this website. |
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d. Are food products distributed in Japanese markets safe?
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The Government of Japan restricts distribution and consumption of the following food products which contain radiation at levels exceeding the standard set by the Government.
- Non-head type leafy vegetables and turnip from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Head type leafy vegetables and flowerhead brassicas from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Raw milk from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Log-grown Shiitake mushroom (outdoor cultivation) from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Log-grown Shiitake mushroom (hothouse cultivation) from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Log-grown pholiota nameko (outdoor cultivation) from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Wild mushroom from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Bamboo shoot from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Ostrich fern from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Ume from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Yuzu from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Chestnut from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Sand lance (juvenile) from Fukushima Prefecture
- Cherry salmon yamame (excluding farmed fish) from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Japanese dace from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Sweetfish (excluding farmed fish) from parts of Fukushima Prefecture
- Beef from Fukushima Prefecture (excluding cattle which are managed based on shipment and inspection policy set by the prefecture)
- Beef from Miyagi Prefecture (excluding cattle which are managed based on shipment and inspection policy set by the prefecture)
- Beef from Iwate Prefecture (excluding cattle which are managed based on shipment and inspection policy set by the prefecture)
- Beef from Tochigi Prefecture (excluding cattle which are managed based on shipment and inspection policy set by the prefecture)
- Tea leaf from parts of Ibaraki Prefecture, parts of Tochigi Prefecture, parts of Chiba Prefecture, parts of Kanagawa Prefecture and parts of Gunma Prefecture
- Log-grown Shiitake mushroom (outdoor cultivation) from parts of Ibaraki Prefecture and parts of Chiba Prefecture
- Log-grown Shiitake mushroom (hothouse cultivation) from parts of Ibaraki Prefecture
- Log-grown brick cap (outdoor cultivation) from parts of Tochigi Prefecture
For more information, please refer to this website.
Radioactive materials in food products are monitored everyday.
For more information, please refer to this website. |
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e. How is the radiation situation in Japan?
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The area within a 20-kilometer radius is stipulated as a "No-entry Zone" on April 22.
As for the areas between 20 to 30-kilometer radius, residents there were advised to take shelter in buildings and refrain from going out unless necessary, following specifications were added as of April 11.
- "Planned Evacuation Area": In the area outside the 20-kilometer radius zone where accumulative dose of the radioactive material may reach 20 mSv within one year from the beginning of the accident,
Residents will be requested to leave the Area within one month.
Area: Katsurao Village, Namie Town, Iitate Village, part of Kawamata Town, and a part of Minami-Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture.
- "Area Prepared for Emergency Evacuation": In the area between 20-kilometer and 30-kilometer radius other than the "Planned Evacuation Area", residents are requested to be ready at all times for evacuation in case of an emergency.
Those persons who may have difficulties evacuating immediately, i.e. infants, children, pregnant women, and those who need special care or hospitalized people are advised not to enter this zone.
Area: Hirono Town, Naraha Town, Kawauchi Village, part of Tamura City, and a part of Minami-Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture.
Environmental radioactivity level by prefecture including Tokyo is monitored constantly and their readings and data are available as follows.
For evacuation ordinance, please refer to this website.
Other websites:
Reading of environmental radioactivity level
(By prefecture) Time series data (Graph)
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