Japan plans to appeal to Hong Kong to lift its ban on imports of Japanese foods from regions affected by nuclear accident two years ago, says Japanese government official
Nevin Barich
HONG KONG
,
August 15, 2013
(Kyodo News International)
–
Japan plans to appeal to Hong Kong to lift its ban on imports of Japanese foods from regions affected by the nuclear accident two years ago, a Japanese government official said Thursday on the opening day of an annual food fair.
As of last October, a total of 42 countries and regions have imposed some form of restriction on food imports from Japan as a result of the nuclear accident, according to Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
"There are seven prefectures in Japan which cannot export some of their products to Hong Kong, so we are trying to explain, persuade the government of Hong Kong to lift the ban," said Masayuki Yamashita, the director general of the ministry's food industry affairs bureau.
"I am confident that those products (that) are subject to the restriction will be treated as normal products," he said.
Yamashita said Japan plans to double its global food exports to US$10 billion by 2020.
A record 230 exporters are participating in the Food Expo this year, highlighting the territory's love for Japanese food, including seafood, sake, rice and tobacco.
Hong Kong is the world's top destination for Japan's food exports, consuming nearly 22 percent, or US$1 billion worth, of Japan's agricultural and seafood products last year, followed by the United States, Taiwan, mainland China and South Korea, according to ministry data.
Hong Kong's 2012 imports, however, were down 11.3 percent from the previous year.
(c) 2013 Kyodo News International, Inc.
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