Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Japanese

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I have two items to report concerning (1) instructions issued concerning rice planting restrictions for 2012 and advance shipment restrictions on rice produced in 2012, and (2) instructions concerning the disposal of livestock in newly established zones (in the vicinity of the nuclear power station). Today, in accordance with Article 20, Paragraph 3 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, it was decided to implement rice planting restrictions and impose advance shipment restrictions for rice grown in certain areas of Fukushima Prefecture in 2012. Instructions to this effect have been communicated to the governor of Fukushima Prefecture. Specifically, the areas subject to the restrictions are all or part of 15 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture, which have been designated as areas subject to restrictions on rice planting for 2012; and all or part of 11 municipalities, which have been designated as areas subject to advance shipment restrictions on rice grown in 2012, where all rice is to be duly managed and all bags of rice to be subjected to inspection. The scope of the areas subject to restrictions is in accordance with the policy set out recently (February 28) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and is the same as those areas announced by MAFF on March 9, the designation of which was based on responses received from the municipalities concerned.

In addition, today, in accordance with Article 20, Paragraph 3 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, it was decided to change the instructions that were issued to the governor of Fukushima Prefecture on May 12 last year, concerning the euthanization of livestock in the Restricted Area around TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. In specific terms, although the euthanization of livestock within the Restricted Area will continue in principle, following the re-designation of new zones, livestock owners who are now able to travel into the zones (within a radius of 20 km of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station) will be permitted to rear livestock, pursuant to specific conditions, including the marking of each animal and restrictions on the shipment, transportation and breeding of animals in the zones.

For further details about the two items I have reported, please direct your questions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

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