Japanese officials visit the Food and Drug Administration, hoping Taiwan, China will remove the announcement on origin and radiation certificates

The Food and Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced yesterday that Japanese products exported to Taiwan must be accompanied by a certificate of origin and a radiation inspection certificate. Three officials from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries visited the FDA this evening to express their hope that the two announcements be withdrawn, but Hsu Ming-neng, deputy minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said: "Impossible, the original announcements remain in force."

The three officials from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries met with FDA officials from about 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, including Hsu Ming-neng, deputy minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare; Chiang Yu-mei, director-general of the FDA; and Pan Chih-kuan, head of the food division, among others. The trip was not made public.

But Hsu Ming-neng was unwilling to disclose the names of the Japanese officials, saying only that Japan considered too strict Taiwan's announcement yesterday that products exported to Taiwan should be accompanied by a certificate of origin and a radiation inspection certificate, and hoped that our side could withdraw the announcement and present scientific evidence.

According to the FDA's four years of border inspection results, a total of 60,000 to 70,000 Japanese imported products were tested, and radiation was detected in only 207 items, none of which exceeded the limit. Hsu Ming-neng said Japan has consistently hoped that Taiwan could produce a risk assessment report, and after today's meeting, the FDA will be asked in the coming days to compile relevant data for Japan's reference.

In addition, did the Japanese officials ask for the lifting of the ban on products from the five counties (Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki and Chiba) banned from export to Taiwan? Hsu Ming-neng said this was not discussed at the meeting.

As for the requirement that, starting May 15, Japanese products exported to Taiwan must be accompanied by a certificate of origin and a radiation inspection certificate, which will formally take effect, and the trade negotiation issues that may follow, Hsu Ming-neng said these will be handled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.