26 Mar 2011

NZ ban on food from Japan not required - importers

5:44 am on 26 March 2011

The Importers Institute is backing a decision by the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry to hold off from banning imports of imports from Japan.

It says the types of food imported by New Zealand are extremely unlikely to be affected by possible contamination from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Russia and Canada are the latest countries to impose import restrictions. Others include Australia, Britain and the United States.

The Green Party says this country needs to follow Australia's lead.

But the Importers Institute says countries that have imposed bans import a wider range of food products than New Zealand.

Secretary Daniel Silva says a ban would be giving into anti-nuclear hysteria.

He says New Zealand needs to be alert, but not panic about the risk of contaminated food.