About agencies inspecting radioactive substances on export food (As of September 14, 2012)

Since the accident of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station that occurred on March 11, 2011, some foreign countries have requested inspections on radioactive substances for foods exported from Japan. We provide general information on inspection agencies as follows. Some countries may also require public institutions-issued certificates of inspection results on radioactive substances. Please confirm foreign countries' import requirements on MAFF website before you export.

 
Please note that some foreign countries may ascertain inspection agencies' accredited status on ISO/IEC17025 and/or their GLPs and that the following countries, as agreed with the Government of Japan, require certificates of inspection results on radioactive substances for food exported from Japan: EU, EFTA member countries, Croatia, Korea, Thailand, Brazil, French Polynesia, Lebanon, Morocco, Hong Kong China, Egypt, Brunei and Dubai. 

 

1. Japanese inspection agencies

1. MAFF gained agreement with inspection agencies on listing their names on MAFF's website.
2. If you want to know specific inspection methods and charge, please ask each inspection agency directly.

 

Administrative inspection agencies

• Kyoto City Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Kagawa Prefectural Industrial Technology Center (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Nagasaki Prefectural Institute for Environmental Research and Public Health (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Fukushima Technology Centre (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Local Independent Administrative Agency Iwate Industrial Research Institute (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)

 

Private inspection agencies

• Japan Inspection Association of Food and Food Industry Environment (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Chemical Analysis Center (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Frozen Foods Inspection Corporation (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Food Research Laboratories (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector and a NaI scintillation counter)
• Aomori Pharmaceutical Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector and the NaI scintillation counter)
• Chiba Pharmaceutical Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Dairy Technical Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Shin Nihon Kentei Kyokai (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Hokkaido Pharmaceutical Association (inspection by the NaI scintillation counter and by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Environmental Science Research Niigata (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Niigata Environment Hygiene Central Laboratory Company (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Food Hygiene Association, Institute of Food Hygiene (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Shimadzu Techno Research, Inc. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Kumamoto Pharmaceutical Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Food and Environment Analysis Center Co. Ltd. (inspection by inspection by a NaI scintillation counter and a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Grain Inspection Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Unitika Environmental Technical Center Ltd.(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Research Laboratory of Science, Yamagata Prefecture (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Public Health Society of Miyagi Prefecture(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Hokuriku Institute of Environmental Science Co.LTD(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Institute of Foods Ecology Inc. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Foundation of Food Analysis Technology Center Sunatec (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector) 
• Seikan Kensa Center Inc. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Nihon Environmental Service Co. Ltd.(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Oita Pharmaceutical Association(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Environment Science Co. LTD. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• The Laboratory of Iwate Pharmaceutical Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector and a NaI scintillation counter)
• Tokyo Kenbikyoin Foundation (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Hiyoshi Ecological Services Co. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• EcoPro Research Co.,LTD. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• The Aichi Pharmaceutical Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Kitakyushu Life Science Center (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• QSAI Analysis and Research Center Co., Ltd. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Tokyo Food Sanitation Association Food Research Laboratory (inspection by a NaI scintillation counter)
• Nippon Total Science, Inc. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Ecotech Co.,Ltd.(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)  
• Environmental Science Laboratory (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Public Health Research Center of Ibaraki Pharmaceutical Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector and a NaI scintillation counter)
• Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Foods Hygiene Laboratory (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• General Incorporated Foundation Environmental Analysis Center of Niigata Prefecture (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• All Nippon Checkers Corporation ANCC Analysis and Research Laboratory (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• SGS Japan Inc. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Nagasaki Food Hygiene Association Research Center for Food and Environment (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Food Research Laboratory IDEA Consultants, Inc. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Saitama Food Hygiene Association. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Analysis Center Co.,Ltd. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Foundation Joetsu Environmental Science Center. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Tokai Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry Co., Ltd. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Incorporated Foundation Okinawa Prefecture Environment Science Center. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Kotobiken Medical Laboratories Inc. Food Analysis Center, Tsukuba Office. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Vegetech Co., Ltd. Quality Control Office, Physical and Chemical Analysis Group. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Kankyo Research Co., Ltd., Technical Department, Analytical Technology Division, Radioactivity Measurement Room (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector and a NaI scintillation counter) 
• Fukushima Preservative Service Association of Health (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Japan Oil-Stuff Inspectors' Corp. Analytical Technical Laboratory (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Ishikawa Health Service Association (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector and a NaI scintillation counter)
• Okinawa Environmental Preservation Institute Co. Ltd (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Radioactivity Testing Laboratory, Analysis Evaluation Division, Foundation(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• NAITOH Environmental Science Co., Ltd. Environmental Analysis Division(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector and a NaI scintillation counter)
• Riken Analysis Center, Inc. (inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
• Life Co., Ltd. Mbic Enviromental laboratry(inspection by a germanium semiconductor detector)
  

(Note)  These inspection agencies are registered to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare under the Food Sanitation Act and/or accredited on ISO/IEC 17025 by the members of Signatories to the ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) Mutual Recognition Arrangement.

 

 2. Foreign inspection agencies

1. The web page lists the foreign inspection agencies registered as institutions which conduct inspections of various types of foods.  Some of them may be specialized in inspecting specific types of foods and/or incapable of conducting inspections on radioactive substances. If you want to know their capabilities of conducting inspections on radioactive substances, please contact each agency directly or through exporters etc.
2. If you want to know specific inspection methods and charge, please ask each inspection agency directly or through exporters etc.
3. The web page lists the foreign inspection agencies registered as institutions which conduct inspections of various types of foods. It is not assured whether inspections conducted by these agencies on radioactive substances have valid results. If you request inspections on radioactive substances to these agencies, please confirm to them directly or through exporters etc. whether the inspection results are acceptable in the country for export.
4. If you want to send samples for requesting inspections on radioactive substances, please ask the listed inspection agencies directly or through exporters etc. about how to send them.

 

List of official inspection agencies in exporting countries is available from Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website : http://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/yunyu/5/index.html

*The web page lists inspection agencies that foreign governments have registered to the Japanese government as institutions which has testing capabilities equivalent to the conducting agencies registered by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare when importing to Japan. Please see this information as a reference when you find foreign inspection agencies on radioactive substances. Please also contact each agency directly for more information.

 

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