Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all I have one major issue to report to you, with regard to the imposition of restrictions on shipment. To begin with the conclusion, today, in accordance with Article 20, Paragraph 3 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, it has been decided to establish restrictions on shipment to slaughter houses of all cattle reared in Fukushima Prefecture, and also on the shipment of shiitake mushrooms grown on Raw Log in facilities in the cities of Date and Motomiya in Fukushima Prefecture. Instructions to this effect have been communicated to the governor of Fukushima Prefecture. As you will be aware, the measure for cattle is in response to reports of beef containing radioactive cesium in excess of the provisional regulation values stipulated under the Food Sanitation Act having been detected in three municipalities. Since July 8 it has been considered that this is due to beef cattle being fed rice straw that was left out in rice paddies following the nuclear incident. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has issued a request to local governments concerned to implement surveys on distribution channels, to ensure that beef that exceeds the provisional regulation values is not put into circulation. In addition, all individual identification numbers will be disclosed and efforts are being made to request distribution information from persons concerned, to collect meat specimens from the relevant individual identification numbers and to implement prompt examination of these specimens. For individual beef cows that may have possibly been fed with the rice straw that has caused the current issue, every effort will be made to identify the distribution process and once these individual cows are discovered, their distribution will be halted and they will be subject to individual examination. Following the imposition of shipment restrictions, in the event that a request is received from Fukushima Prefecture for the partial lifting of shipment restrictions, based on the premise that measures for thorough and appropriate management of animal feed are in place and a rational safety management system has been established to examine meat products, the Government shall approve such a request. With regard to partial lifting of shipment restrictions, in the Planned Evacuation Zones, Emergency Evacuation Preparation Zones and other specifically designated areas, all cattle will be subject to examination and only those cattle that show levels below the provisional regulation values will be approved for shipment. In all other areas of Fukushima Prefecture, all farms will be subject to examination. These examinations will be for the purpose of determining whether there is a possibility that cattle have been fed with the rice straw that has caused this issue, and at least one head of cattle from among those first shipped will be examined at each farm and only those cattle that show levels below the provisional regulation values will be approved for shipment. Even in the case that cattle are shown to be safe, regular examinations will continue to be implemented from now on. Following the imposition of restrictions on shipment,the Government will make every effort to ensure that appropriate compensation is provided to livestock farmers. Furthermore, in prefectures neighboring Fukushima, in addition to thorough and appropriate management of animal feed as a means of avoiding the use of contaminated rice straw, on-site evaluations of farms will be implemented. In cases where there is a possibility that a similar situation has occurred, similar measures will be required. The individual identification numbers for beef cows that could have been fed contaminated rice straw feed have all been disclosed, and the Government would like to ask those concerned to check whether beef that corresponds to such numbers has been put into the distribution chain. If it is discovered that such beef has actually entered the distribution chain, people are requested not to eat it, but to contact the nearest bureau of the MHLW or Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), or at the very least a local health center.

Q&As

REPORTER: A moment ago, you said that the Government will work to ensure that appropriate compensation is provided. Specifically, what sort of compensation do you have in mind for the livestock farmers?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Naturally, if the contamination is beyond the standard permissible level and therefore the beef cannot be distributed, then I believe it is only natural that compensation is provided for the cattle. Also, at the very least, regarding impacts such as the fall in prices, logically I believe compensation for the difference in prices falls within the scope of legally sufficient cause.

REPORTER: I have two questions. The first is, I believe the shipment restrictions will be removed after we have a full picture of how feed is used and managed, etc. When do you expect the restrictions to be removed - at the end of this month or next month? The other question is, I believe all farms in the specified zones are subject to inspections. In this sense of providing safety and assurance to consumers, I believe Fukushima Prefecture is also requesting the inspection of all cattle. Does the Government have any opinions on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Regarding your first question on how long the various procedures will take, my hope is that they will be carried out as quickly as possible. For details, I ask that you please forward your questions to MAFF. Regarding your latter question, the plan was compiled in consultation with the prefecture and other entities. In addition to studying the distribution channels, at least one head of cattle belonging to each farmer will be inspected. Since, in principle, all cattle at the respective rearing locations are fed with similar food, even if the radiation level is below the regulated level, if it is close to the regulated limit, naturally I believe more careful inspections may be carried out. The cattle farmers have suffered from tremendous damage because of this incident, including reputational damages . In this context, in terms of managing the issue, I believe we will have the cooperation of the farmers in carrying out a thorough response from the perspective of ensuring safety.

REPORTER: Regarding the possibility of other food contamination problems arising which are similar to this beef issue, in which the problem was overlooked or caused by insufficient notification, what are the Government's current views and what preventive measures are you taking?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Indeed, with regard to this issue of rice straw, although the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries had issued instructions in a broad sense, we did not have a thorough grasp of the problem. Consequently, we have caused great concern and inconvenience to the relevant people, including consumers. Regarding whether there are any other similar cases, the food safety divisions of MAFF, MHLW, and the Cabinet Office are in the process of confirming or conducting studies. At this point in time, I believe there is nothing similar we need to worry about. However, I believe this is indeed a matter which needs to be checked with the constant awareness that such problems may arise.

REPORTER: On a related note, if you think about it, an order to restrict shipment is one that could have been expected, but why was the order given now, after the discovery of the problem? Also, there is suspicion that the Government underestimated the impact of radioactive contamination. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Regarding this incident, a voluntary ban had already been initiated in Fukushima Prefecture by the time the problem was detected, so no new meat will be distributed even if decisions on various matters are pending - in other words, even if people have to wait for a solid and clear policy from the Government concerning what tests to use and other issues. Therefore, although the order based on the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness was dated today, the actual restrictions on shipments were implemented once the problem was discovered.

REPORTER: I would like to ask about a different issue. On a somewhat related note, Japanese restaurants located in other countries, including restaurants that do not even directly import foods from Japan, have been suffering tremendously from reputational damages about the risk of Japanese foods. Concern is sure to intensify even further in light of the current beef problem. How does the Government intend to communicate the safety of Japanese foods to other countries from here on?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Since the disaster we have provided and communicated information on the websites of Government ministries and agencies as well as diplomatic missions abroad. Furthermore, we have briefed the foreign press, and we have had our diplomatic missions abroad, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and others hold briefing sessions. However, the reality is that this information has yet to be adequately circulated and I think that many people will become concerned in response to this incident about beef. I will consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and others and further strengthen the information provision scheme. The countermeasure will ultimately be to conduct as much monitoring as possible and exert every effort to publicizing in a detailed manner the truth about the countermeasures that we implement.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to reconfirm one point. The current problem pertains to beef alone, but consumers will now naturally worry about chicken and pork as well. Is it safe to say that these meats are also being screened?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The problem with the beef is unfortunately perceived to be due to rice straw stored outdoors that became contaminated with radioactive materials. Concerning the possibility of the feed of other animals being contaminated, I have been told that this is highly unlikely. Nevertheless, I have ordered that a more rigorous and cautious check be carried out.

REPORTER: Today, the Government will announce the completion of Step 1 of the its Roadmap of the nuclear power station. What do you consider to be the greatest significance of completing Step 1?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This means that there is a markedly lower risk for radioactive materials to be released again in large amounts. This means we will be able to surpass, or we have already surpassed, the first obstacle in working towards bringing this issue to a close. Of course, from here on things will take time for various reasons, but I think this was a concrete first step, or perhaps the starting line, in moving towards a full-fledged conclusion of the problem, including allowing people living around the facility to go back to their normal lives.

REPORTER: What considerations are to be carried out on removing Emergency Evacuation Preparedness Zones, which were directly linked to this Step 1?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Now that we have achieved Step 1, I believe we are truly at the starting line for this, with Minister Hosono taking the lead, as we consult the National Safety Commission as well as local residents.