The Atomic Energy Council yesterday issued a temporary radiation level standard for non-food goods imported from Japan, such as electronics and home appliances, of less than 0.2 microsieverts per hour.
Wang Chung-der (王重德), head of the council’s Department of Radiation Protection, said the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection began inspecting radiation levels yesterday in 912 non-food commodities, including home appliances, computers, communication products, consumer electronics and the chemical products.
Wang said that only those that were detected to have radiation levels below 0.2 microsieverts per hour would be allowed to enter the country, adding that the inspectors would take into consideration the radiation that is normally present in the environment.
Photo: CNA
Products with a radiation level above 0.2 microsieverts per hour would either be decontaminated or barred from entering the country, he said.
Individuals who purchase electronic products during a visit to Japan can also ask the council to measure the radiation levels of the goods. The service is available to the public free of charge, he added.
Meanwhile, in addition to 30 observation stations on land, the council has been working with the coast guard to monitor radiation levels in the air off the northeast coast since Friday.
Chiou Syh-tsong (邱錫聰), director of the council’s Fuel Cycle and Materials Administration, said coast guard officials and inspectors from the council have gone 630km off the nation’s northeast coast to measure the radiation in the air.
The data collected from the sea showed that the radiation was still within the normal range, he said.
In related developments, the Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau yesterday said it is enhancing its screening process for imported goods from Japan.
Incoming ships from Japan will be marked with stars on monitor boards at the port’s control center to remind port officials of their special status, the bureau said in a statement.
The port has also activated 38 radiation portal monitors to determine whether radiation levels of imported goods are above the normal range.
In addition, port officials are also being equipped with hand-held devices to check for radioactive contamination on ships, crew members and cargo.
Carriers or shipping agencies should immediately report to the council if their crew members or passengers coming from Japan experience discomfort or could possibly have been exposed to high levels of radiation, the statement said.
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