Bandar Seri Begawan - The importation of certain products from Japan has been temporarily suspended by the-government as a precautionary measure to safeguard the public from radioactive contaminants in food originating from the country.

A press release dated March 29, 2011 from the Ministry of Health (MoH) said the MoH and Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) have continuously monitored, reviewed the situation and obtained further information from regional neighbours and relevant international organisations.

In this regard, importers and the public have been informed that the importation of certain food categories has been suspended.

The importation of any meat, seafood, milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables (fresh and processed), tubers including potato and sweet Potato, seaweed and green tea products from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Kanagawa, Tokyo and Chiba Prefectures are temporarily suspended.

However, other products from these prefectures and products from other prefectures in Japan may be imported into Brunei Darussalam according to approved procedures by submitting the Declaration for Food Importation into Brunei Darussalam which has been verified by a competent authority in Japan and must be accompanied with the Radioactivity Analysis Report.

These steps are taken to ensure food imported into Brunei Darussalam is safe for consumption and free from radioactive Contaminants.

For further enquiries and information, the public may contact the Food Safety and Quality Control Division, Health Screening Centre, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health at 2331100-5/06/08/09/10 or email your concern to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The public may also contact the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources via 2388000 or send your email via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or agriculture. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by contacting the Fisheries Department, MIPR at 2383067 or by writing to them by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin