Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Inspects Origin Labeling at Noryangjin Market Ahead of Imminent Decision on Japan's Contaminated Water Discharge

Request to Comply with Origin Labeling... Directive to Expand Public Participation

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Moon Sung-hyuk (left) visits the Suhyup Gangseo Wholesale Market in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 8th ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday to tour the seafood store. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] As prospects emerge in Japan that the Japanese government’s decision to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean is imminent, Moon Seong-hyeok, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is scheduled to visit the Noryangjin Fish Wholesale Market in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th to urgently inspect the status of origin management and enforcement, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 11th.

After examining the status of origin management by market merchants, Minister Moon will receive a report on the origin enforcement situation of imported seafood such as Japanese seafood conducted by the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS) and the status of distribution history management, and will check the implementation status.

Minister Moon plans to urge market officials to thoroughly implement the origin labeling system so that the public can feel assured. He also plans to instruct NFQS officials to concentrate all capabilities on origin enforcement and to expand channels for public participation, including consumer groups, in the enforcement process.

Special crackdown on origin labeling. (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is monitoring whether radioactive substances from the Fukushima nuclear power plant flow into domestic waters by establishing radiation survey points in 39 coastal waters nationwide to measure tritium and cesium levels.

Starting this year, the ministry plans to increase the frequency of surveys centered on the Korea Strait, including the East Sea, South Sea, and Jeju waters, to investigate changes in the marine environment before and after the release of radioactive contaminated water.

Asahi Shimbun and others reported earlier on the 7th (local time) that the Japanese government wants to hold a meeting of relevant ministers as early as the beginning of this week to decide on a response policy regarding the contaminated water. The Japanese government is known to be gathering discussions toward releasing the nuclear power plant’s contaminated water into the ocean.