Ban on Import of Japanese food products

For those who are concerned on the radioactive-contaminated Japanese food, products Brunei has already banned the importation from the affected area, effective from 29th March 2011. From the official website of Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam:

LARANGAN PENGIMPOTAN MAKANAN DARI JEPUN

Berikutan dari penemuan pencemaran bahan radiasi nuklear dalam makanan, termasuk makanan yang diproses dan juga produk-produk pertanian dan perikanan segar dari Jepun, Kementerian Kesihatan dan Kementerian Perindustrian dan Sumber-Sumber Utama ingin memaklumkan kepada para pengimport dan orang ramai bahawa makanan dari kawasan-kawasan yang terjejas adalah ditegah buat sementara waktu dari diimport ke Negara ini. Setakat ini, kawasan-kawasan yang terlibat ialah wilayah Kanto (iaitu Daerah-Daerah Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo dan Kanagawa) dan Daerah Fukushima, Jepun.

Sementara itu, makanan yang diproses dan produk-produk pertanian dan perikanan segar yang diimport dari daerah-daerah lain di Jepun dikehendaki mempunyai ‘Certificate of Origin’ dan sijil pengesahan bebas dari pencemaran radiasi.

Langkah-langkah tersebut diambil adalah untuk memastikan bahawa makanan yang diimport ke Negara ini adalah selamat untuk dimakan. Setakat ini, selepas kejadian bencana pada 11 Mac 2011 belum ada pengimpotan makanan dari Jepun.

Kementerian Kesihatan dan Kementerian Perindustrian dan Sumber-sumber Utama akan sentiasa memantau situasi di Jepun dan serantau melalui hubungan kerjasama dan juga maklumat yang diterima dari berbagai agensi-agensi antarabangsa seperti Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Kedutaan Jepun di Negara Brunei Darussalam dan pihak-pihak yang berkuasa di negara-negara jiran.

Bagi sebarang pertanyaan dan keterangan lanjut, orang ramai boleh menghubungi:

Bahagian Kawalan Kualiti dan Keselamatan Makanan
Perkhidmatan Kesihatan Alam Sekitar
Jabatan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan
Kementerian Kesihatan
Nombor telefon: 233 1105 / 233 1106 / 233 1108 / 233 1109 / 233 1110
Nombor faksimili: 233 1107
Alamat e-mel: fsqc@hotmail.com

Atau

Jabatan Pertanian dan Agrimakanan
Kementerian Perindustrian dan Sumber-sumber Utama
Nombor telefon: 238 8000
Nombor faksimili: 238 2226 / 238 1639
Alamat e-mel: info@agriculture.gov.bn / agriculture.agrifood@gmail.com

Atau

Jabatan Perikanan
Kementerian Perindustrian dan Sumber-sumber Utama
Nombor telefon: 238 3067
Nombor faksimili: 238 2069
Alamat e-mel: bruneifisheries@brunet.bn

Useful Links: Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA): AVA SUSPENDS IMPORT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM KANTO REGION IN JAPAN (26 March 2011)

The Media Release by AVA- http://www.ava.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/9253E7B2-E57D-4992-982C-1304E73748D6/18832/Pressrelease_Detectionofradioactivecontaminantsint.pdf

What is SSEAYP?

The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) is based on the respective Joint Statements issued in January 1974 between Japan and the Republic of Indonesia , Malaysia , the Republic of Philippines the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand. Negara Brunei Darussalam ,following full independence and its admission to the ASEAN in January 1984 , joined the program in 1985. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam joined in 1996 , following its admission to the ASEAN in July 1995 , and the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Union of Myanmar joined in 1998 after having been admitted to the ASEAN in July 1997. Furthermore , in 2000 , the Kingdom of Cambodia also joined this program following its admission to the ASEAN in April 1999. This program is carried out by the Government of Japan with the active participation and cooperation of these ten Southeast Asian countries.

The purpose of this program is to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of Japan and Southeast Asian countries ; to broaden their perspective on the world , as well as to strengthen their motivation and ability in international cooperation by participating in discussions , in ob-board introductions to each country , and in various exchange activities both on-board and in the countries visited. In addition , the participating youths are expected to progress to leadership positions in youth activities , and in various other sections , in their own country after this program.

SSEAYP Participating countries:

(by alphabetical order)

1. Brunei
2. Cambodia
3. Indonesia
4. Japan
5. Laos
6. Malaysia
7. Myanmar
8. Philippines
9. Singapore
10. Thailand
11. Vietnam

SSEAYP Activities :
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1.Activities on Board the Ship ;
a) Discussion
b) Solidarity group activities
c) Club activities
d) Introduction to each country
e) Lectures
f) Studies for safe voyage , including lifeboat drill
g) Other activities approved by COC (Cruise Operating Committee)

2.Activities in the Countries Visited
a) Courtesy calls and Reception
b) Homestay
c) Parties on board , and open ship
d) Program on interaction with local people during a visit to facility
e) Other activities arranged by the respective governments/ reception committee

(Implementation of these is limited to when the program has sufficient spare time to add an extra activity other than those listed above.)

Solidarity Group (SG)

SG B performing the Nippon Maru song

club activity: experiencing the Japanese tea ceremony

institutional visit

cultural performance

homestay programme

discussion

Nippon Maru - the ship commissioned for SSEAYP, carrying participants across the ocean from Japan to ASEAN

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SSEAYP Official language :
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English is the working language throughout this program.

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SSEAYP Participating Youth Qualification :
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1. 18-30 years of age
2. Able to participate throughout the program
3. Having a command of English adequate to enable participation in the activities both on board and in the countries visited.
4. In good health , both physically and mentally.
5. Adaptable to an orderly group life in accordance with the program schedule
6. Having a good understanding of, and interest in, the countries visited.

(Text from ASSEAY Thailand
Photos (c) Jennifer Mok)

Links: SSEAYP photos of Jennifer BPY07
Blog of Brunei Participating Youth 2007