ID :
197938
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 18:02
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http://m.oananews.org//node/197938
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Gov't bans all shipments of beef cattle from Miyagi Pref
TOKYO (Kyodo) - The Japanese government instructed the Miyagi prefectural government Thursday to suspend shipments of beef cattle from the northeastern region after a number of cattle raised there have been found to be contaminated with radioactive cesium above the permissible level, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said.
Miyagi Prefecture, which transports around 30,000 cattle annually, became the second prefecture after Fukushima to be subject to a ban on cattle shipments. On July 19, the central government issued that order to the Fukushima prefectural government.
It was also the first ban on shipments of food produced in Miyagi Prefecture, north of Fukushima Prefecture that hosts the radiation-releasing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Edano, the top government spokesman, made the announcement after Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai called on the government to do so and then compensate local farmers for losses.
In Miyagi Prefecture, meat from four more cows was found Thursday to contain radioactive cesium above the government-set limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram, bringing the total number of cases in Miyagi to 10, the local government said.
Edano said the government will partially lift the instruction after the Miyagi prefectural government tightens management of beef cattle, establishes safety checks and seeks a lifting of the order.
The government is also considering issuing a similar instruction to the Iwate prefectural government next week, government officials said. Contaminated beef has been found to have been shipped from the city of Ichinoseki and the town of Fujisawa, Iwate Prefecture.
The government issued the instruction as the farms that shipped the cows are located over a wide area in northern and southern parts of Miyagi Prefecture.
With concerns about contaminated beef spreading across the nation, at least 10 prefectural governments have start testing or will test all beef cattle for radioactive contamination and another five are considering following suit, according to a recent Kyodo News survey.
As the number is expected to increase, Edano said Thursday that the central government plans to tap state coffers for the costs of such testing by local authorities.
The contamination of beef with radioactive cesium above the government-set limit is believed to have originated in rice straw placed outdoors when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began releasing radioactive substances after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Contaminated straw has been distributed both within and outside Miyagi Prefecture and many cattle fed with the contaminated straw have been transported nationwide, except to Okinawa Prefecture.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, rice straw contaminated with radioactive cesium was used as cow feed at 170 beef cattle farms in 16 prefectures including Hokkaido, Niigata and Shimane.
Miyagi Prefecture, which transports around 30,000 cattle annually, became the second prefecture after Fukushima to be subject to a ban on cattle shipments. On July 19, the central government issued that order to the Fukushima prefectural government.
It was also the first ban on shipments of food produced in Miyagi Prefecture, north of Fukushima Prefecture that hosts the radiation-releasing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Edano, the top government spokesman, made the announcement after Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai called on the government to do so and then compensate local farmers for losses.
In Miyagi Prefecture, meat from four more cows was found Thursday to contain radioactive cesium above the government-set limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram, bringing the total number of cases in Miyagi to 10, the local government said.
Edano said the government will partially lift the instruction after the Miyagi prefectural government tightens management of beef cattle, establishes safety checks and seeks a lifting of the order.
The government is also considering issuing a similar instruction to the Iwate prefectural government next week, government officials said. Contaminated beef has been found to have been shipped from the city of Ichinoseki and the town of Fujisawa, Iwate Prefecture.
The government issued the instruction as the farms that shipped the cows are located over a wide area in northern and southern parts of Miyagi Prefecture.
With concerns about contaminated beef spreading across the nation, at least 10 prefectural governments have start testing or will test all beef cattle for radioactive contamination and another five are considering following suit, according to a recent Kyodo News survey.
As the number is expected to increase, Edano said Thursday that the central government plans to tap state coffers for the costs of such testing by local authorities.
The contamination of beef with radioactive cesium above the government-set limit is believed to have originated in rice straw placed outdoors when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began releasing radioactive substances after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Contaminated straw has been distributed both within and outside Miyagi Prefecture and many cattle fed with the contaminated straw have been transported nationwide, except to Okinawa Prefecture.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, rice straw contaminated with radioactive cesium was used as cow feed at 170 beef cattle farms in 16 prefectures including Hokkaido, Niigata and Shimane.
