Gov't Units Intensify Spot Check for Radiation of Imported Japanese Goods

Taipei, March 22, 2011 (CENS)--The Department of Health (DOH) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will jointly carry out from today (March 22) intensified spot check on radiation of imported Japanese goods, including foods, daily necessities, and industrial components/parts, to ward off radiation-contaminated products from entering the island.

The DOH announced yesterday intensified spot check of all processed packaged foods from Japan, including instant noodles and biscuits, with the production date after March 12, at the customs. The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, will also undertake spot check of 658 designated goods, at the ratio of one out of every 20 batches, imported from Japan.

The 658 designated products fall under the five major categories of machinery, electronics, electric machinery, chemical, and food. They include home appliances, baby clothes, machine tools, and inflammable building materials, as well as 13 auto parts and 60 industrial components and parts.

An MOEA official pointed out that the practice is to prevent the misuse of radiation-contaminated Japanese components/parts from harming the MIT (made-in-Taiwan) image. He assured that procedure of the spot check is very quick and won't affect the operation of importers.

Importers can entrust qualified units to remove radiation exceeding the accepted level for imported goods by themselves; otherwise, the shipment will be returned to Japan.