The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted a ban on food imports from Japan, which were imposed after the cat Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-power plant in March 2011, which was caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami.
The Ministry of Environment and Water lifted the ban after the Japanese authorities collected and analysed nearly 50,000 samples from districts surrounding the plant.
Under the import rules, the provinces surrounding the plant - Fukushima, Goma, Ibaraki, Tuccikja, Miyagi, Kanegwa, Aomori and seven others - will require certificates indicating that the products do not contain high levels of radiation. The certificates must also reveal the items' date of production.
The ministry said that it is committed to food security, biosecurity and maintaining food safety and consumer health.
Earlier this month, Bahrain became the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council to lift import restrictions on Japanese food products.
This decision eliminates the need for Japanese food producers to submit inspection certificates, which confirm that the food does not contain radioactive substances.
