Greens: Stop Japanese food imports

The Green Party has called on the Government to stop food imports from Japan as the country deals with an ongoing Chernobyl-level nuclear crisis.

Radiation leaks have spilled into the sea and contaminated soil around the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant on Japan's north-east coast.

Australia has stopped some food imports from the areas around the plant, where the crisis was recently given the same rating level as the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Here, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is carrying out radiation testing on all potentially contaminated imports from around Fukushima.

Green Party food spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said that was not good enough.

New Zealand was importing some of the same products that had been banned in Australia, she said.

"Perhaps our food safety experts could explain why we are not halting Japanese foodstuffs while Australia is?

"Australia has halted imports of the very same products New Zealand seems happy to allow in."

MAF principal spokesman Glen Neal said all Japanese food imports that could be contaminated by radiation from Fukushima would be tested.

However, no food products had been tested yet as no imports had been identified as originating from affected areas or being harvested and processed during a "period of interest", he said.

He denied the allegation New Zealand was taking a softer stance on potentially contaminated food than Australia.

"Australia has not banned Japan imports - they are stopping certain products from certain prefectures - and testing if required - same as in New Zealand.

"We understand the concern and we are keeping a close eye on it in conjunction with other international agencies."

New Zealand food imports from Japan include nearly $80,000 in meat, fish, crustaceans and other aquatic animals in the 2011 year.

Most imports are limited to a small range of specialty products such as small volumes of seaweed and sake as well as other Japanese specialty food products such as mirin, soy sauce, dried noodles, pickled ginger and wasabi.

MAF has argued that makes it easier for importers to be contacted and food to be checked.

But Ms Kedgley said a ban should be enacted on all imports from around Fukushima as a precaution.

The MAF guarantees that all potentially radiation-infected food was being tested was "weasel words and spin", she said.

"I'm amazed they would say they're testing everything that's potentially contaminated and in the next breath they say they haven't tested anything. I just think it's the typical response.

"This is the wrong approach. Despite importing only a small amount of food from Japan we should be taking the same precautions other countries are.

"In fact, due to the limited nature of imports, it should be easier for New Zealand to adopt a precautionary approach."

A statement from MAF said it had not identified any food imports from Japan that present a risk to New Zealanders' health.

Director-General Wayne McNee said the agency was actively monitoring the situation and staying in constant contact with Japanese authorities.

"We have assurances that Japanese authorities are taking effective measures to keep contaminated food products out of the supply chain, for both their domestic and export markets."

A spokeswoman for MAF said all food imported to New Zealand from the Fukushima area was tested by the National Radiation Laboratory.