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Japan’s Consumers Union fears toxin levels in Norwegian whale products
21st May 2003
To:
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Department of Food Safety, Inspection and Safety Division
To:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, General Food Policy Bureau, International Affairs Department, International Trade Policy Coordination Division
To:
Fisheries Agency, Resource Management Department, Far Seas Fisheries Division, Whaling section
From: Safety First - Consumers Union of Japan
Please enforce contaminant safety limits for whale products proposed to be exported from Norway (to Japan)
First of all, we would like to express our gratitude for your efforts to ensure the provision of safe food for public consumption.
By the way, Kyodo News has reported on this May 15th that the Norwegian Prime Minister Bondevic is planning on a visit to Tokyo on the 26th May, to discuss the possibilities of whale exports from Norway to Japan with Prime Minister Koizumi.
Although whale meat import from Norway had previously been planned in the past, various concerned citizen's groups, including Safety First, pointed out the risk of chemical contamination, and because of your efficient and adequate response, the plans did not go forward. Such decision on your correspondence was very reassuring for us as Japanese consumers.
However, in January of 2001, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Vice Minister at that time (current vice minister is already different person from this), showed a positive attitude toward opening a market for Norwegian whale imports in the meeting with the Norwegian Fishery Minister. As a result of his attitude, Prime Minister Bondevic intends to offer the export plan during his forthcoming visit to Japan.
In contrast with Prime Minister Bondevic's plan, in Norway, whale blubber consumption is now restricted as contamination by chemicals such as PCBs is considered a threat to public health. In addition, the Norwegian government advised pregnant and lactating woman not to consume any red whale meat fearing mercury contamination would affect their health and that of their embryos and infants. In another words, Norway fully acknowledges the risk of whale meat consumption and has taken measures to protect their citizens.
Although the Norwegian government is fully aware of the danger of the chemical contamination of the whale meat, Prime Minister Bondevbic is willing to put Japanese citizens at risk for his business plan, though he protected his own citizens. This is outrageous. Even if the former Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery appeared positive on the trade, we, the very consumers of Japan, can not accept this plan.
On this note, we urge you to strictly enforce the safety limits on chemical contamination when you review this proposal for import of whale products from Norway, and prioritize the safety of Japanese citizens. In the even that the whale products do not meet the safety standards, please reject firmly the proposal.
Norwegian whale meat consumption regulation and advice are posted on Reuters News and can be viewed by the following URL:
*Regulations on blubber consumption and comments made by people in Norwegian whaling industry
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2684571
*Advices to expectants and women in the lactation period for discontinuance of whale meat consumption
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topnews&storyID=2726774
If you have any questions, please contact:
Safety First
Postal code:176-0012
5-15-12 Toyotama-kita, Nerima ward, Tokyo, Japan
Phone & Fax: 81-3-5912-1871 Mobile phone: 81-70-5575-2192
Email: sfjapan777@aol.com
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