Taiwan-Japan Exchange Meeting on Food Radiation Measurement Technology and Current Status to Be Held on November 10

From tainted milk, copper chlorophyllin sodium, clouding agents to adulterated oil incidents, food safety problems have come one after another without respite. Among the many food safety issues, the Homemakers United Foundation has, since 2012, begun to pay attention to radiation-contaminated food, where internal radiation exposure increases along with time and diet. Starting from concern over the draft amendment to the "Safety Allowable Limits Standard for Radioactive Fallout or Radioactive Contamination in Food," it has continued to work through press conferences, public hearings, legislative cooperation and educational outreach, urging the government to do a good job of gatekeeping on the one hand, while also working to build up the public's knowledge base on the other.

However, due to limited technology related to measuring radiation levels in food and insufficient information on the current status of radiation-contaminated food, and in order to understand how Japanese civil society and academia have achieved food radiation safety gatekeeping after the 311 nuclear disaster, and to promote experience sharing and exchange between Taiwan and Japan, the Homemakers United Foundation has scheduled to hold the "Taiwan-Japan Exchange Meeting on Food Radiation Measurement Technology and Current Status" on the morning of Monday, November 10, 2014 (Republic of China year 103) at 9:00 a.m. at the International Conference Center of National Taiwan Normal University.

This exchange meeting invites two major Japanese civil organizations that conduct testing of radiation levels in food: the Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union and the Toxic Watch Network (abbreviated T Watch), as well as relevant Japanese researchers and experts, to come to Taiwan to exchange and share practical examples with our country's public and private testing institutions and experts.

However, in May of this year, the Food and Drug Administration sought this foundation's agreement to participate in an interview and survey delegation to endorse food imported to Taiwan from five counties and cities including those surrounding Fukushima (see this link for details). After this incident occurred, it further deepened this foundation's determination to hold this Taiwan-Japan exchange meeting, hoping that through inviting valuable sharing and exchange from both sides, it can further strengthen both countries' civil society in gatekeeping for "food radiation safety" in the future, and raise the public's awareness and understanding of information on radiation in food. The issue of radiation-contaminated food has never been a matter for only a few people, and we hope to invite you, who care about your family's diet, to come and participate in this forum.

Organizer: Homemakers United Foundation

Co-organizer: Taiwan Homemakers United Consumer Co-operative

Sponsor: I-Mei Foods Co., Ltd.

Forum time: November 10, 2014 (Mon.) 09:20-16:30 (doors open at 09:00)

Forum venue: International Conference Hall, National Taiwan Normal University (No. 129, Sec. 1, Heping East Road, Taipei City)

Forum agenda:

This event provides simultaneous interpretation equipment and lunch

Because venue capacity is limited, if you are unable to attend, please notify us by email at [email protected]