Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First, I have one matter to report on. It is regarding shipping restrictions. Today, based on Paragraph (3), Article 20 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, I ordered the Tochigi Prefecture Governor to abstain from shipping any cattle being fed in Tochigi Prefecture to slaughterhouses. This instruction was in response to reports that radioactive cesium that exceeded the provisional regulation values of the Food Sanitation Act was detected in beef in two cities in the prefecture.
After instructions are made to restrict shipments, in the event that Tochigi Prefecture files an application for the partial withdrawal of shipping restrictions, it will be approved under the premise that a rational safety control structure has been established that includes thorough and proper feed management as well as testing of beef. Specifically, for farmers with feed management problems, a testing will be performed on all of their livestock and shipments will only be permitted for livestock that have tested below the provisional regulation values. For other farmers, at least one head of cattle from all farmers' initial shipments will be tested, and a farmer's shipment will be permitted if levels fall below the provisional regulation values. Regular testings will also be carried out thereafter. We are now doing everything we can to ensure that livestock farmers impacted by these shipping restrictions receive adequate compensation. For more information please forward your inquiries to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Q&As

REPORTER: Tochigi Prefecture is the fourth prefecture for which shipping restrictions have been implemented. Is it possible that this will spread even further in the future?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: In regard to these cases, it is important to carry out thorough checks for as wide of an area as possible envisioning a worst case scenario.

REPORTER: Consumers have become very worried about beef in response to this problem now appearing in four prefectures. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: On the contrary, we are putting shipping restrictions on beef in several areas that have been detected to exceed the provisional regulation values for radioactive cesium, and, as I just said, only products that have passed rather extensive checks will be released and permitted for sale from these testings. We are now constructing such a mechanism, so, in that sense, we are steadfastly preparing for these screenings. For these reasons I ask for people's understanding that these shipping restrictions are indeed being implemented from the perspective of ensuring safety.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Going back to what I asked you the other day, about the size of the tax increase not being included in the Basic Policy on Reconstruction, in a press conference Minister Yosano said something to the effect of, "If you read that document it is crystal clear that the amount of non-tax revenue is ¥3 trillion and that the tax increase is ¥10 trillion." You previously commented that one would understand the size of the tax increase if they read the document. Do you share the same perception as Minister Yosano?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The document has been released to and is now being read by everyone. I will let people make up their own mind about whether it is crystal clear.

REPORTER: On a related note, while some people express views similar to Minister Yosano, many people in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) have indicated other opinions, such as that non-tax revenue will cover a major portion, or that major tax increases will not be necessary. People's perceptions differ depending on who reads the document. Would you please provide a slightly more thorough explanation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: What was decided on was the document itself, so people can decide for themselves how to interpret the document after they have read it thoroughly.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I apologize to return to this point, but my question is regarding the size of the tax increase in the Basic Policy on Reconstruction. In any case, the Basic Policy that was finalized on July 29 writes that ¥3 trillion will be secured from non-tax revenue and other places. The DPJ had said that it requested that the "¥3 trillion" phrase be deleted from the document and that agreement was met on that deletion. What, then, do you think about the phrase being left in? Was this phrase added as a result of adjustments being made by Secretary General Okada and the Prime Minister? This is not clear. What do you think about the fact that the phrase that the DPJ had asked to be deleted temporarily remains in the document?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am not directly in charge of coordination with the DPJ. I think that would be Minister Gemba or Minister Hirano. I would like to ask you to forward your question to them.