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

His Majesty's Titah at Ministry of Health, 20th Oct 2010

His Majesty delivering his Titah at Ministry of Health after visiting RIPAS (pic below)

His Majesty visits the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at RIPAS Hospital

(Images (C) Infofoto 2010)

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddien Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to visit the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha, RIPAS Hospital in the capital on 20th October 2010. Present with His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, His Royal Highness Prince Haji 'Abdul 'Azim and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malek.

His Majesty has underscored the extensive responsibility of the health authorities in providing various health facilities and services. This is in view of the prime importance of health in life and it cannot be regarded as a small matter. His Majesty was speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Health later in the afternoon. In his titah, His Majesty also posed such questions as to whether such commodities as medicines and vegetables imported into the country are analysed for any dangerous content, prior to being marketed to the public. His Majesty also underscored the importance for the relevant authorities to be more mindful in evaluating the expertise of prospective personnel to be recruited into the health services.

His Majesty went on to question whether the failure like the one resulting in death after the operation had ever been reviewed or its cause ever discussed. His Majesty said in other places such a matter would not have been kept quiet. The ruler suggested that it should have been investigated so as to identify the quality of the officer involved.

His Majesty also spoke on the need to review regulations on maternity leave, to be extended from the existing period, taking into account that the responsibilities of mothers are very heavy and challenging. His Majesty pointed out that mothers are the ones who bring about new generations. As such, it is only appropriate that their welfare be given due attention and managed without them having to voice it out and ask.

His Majesty in the titah, questioned whether such commodities as medicines, vegetables and fish, especially those imported analysed for any dangerious content prior to being sold at markets in the country. Food Safety - Vegetables need to be protected from hazardous toxic materials. They should meet the terms and conditions of standards for food products. Food Safety - Authorities are to ensure that fish are free from dangerous preservatives or chemicals.

Source: RTB News, 21 October 2010