Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has confirmed it is reviewing restrictions on fresh produce imports from Japan’s Fukushima prefecture, according to the Straits Times.
The move follows a request from Japanese agriculture minister Hiroshi Moriyama who visited Singapore earlier this week.
“The AVA will adopt a science-based approach in its assessment, with food safety for Singaporeans as the key priority,” an AVA spokesman told the Straits Times.
Singapore imposed restrictions on the importation of certain food products from 11 Japanese prefectures in 2011, following a leak at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
While bans on some fresh fruit items were lifted in 2014, pre-export tests are still required on produce from the Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma regions.
In discussions with Singapore’s national development minister, Lawrence Wong, Moriyama highlighted that the EU has begun relaxing sanctions on Japanese food imports.
