Business News

German firm begins food radiation measuring service in Japan

Oct 18, 2011, 10:40 GMT

Tokyo - The Japanese unit of TUV Rheinland Group, a major German inspection and certification service provider, said Tuesday it had started to offer services to measure radioactive content in water, soil and food.

TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd is to measure the amount of radioactive substances contained in samples brought by clients such as retailers and food producers for 18,000 yen (234 dollars) or more per sample, the company said.

TUV Rheinland also offers services of simpler measurements for individual farmers and other clients for at least 10,000 yen each, the company said.

TUV Rheinland launched the service amid mounting concerns about food safety and water and soil contamination after the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in north-eastern Japan.

After the plant was hit by a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami March 11, a series of blasts and fires triggered the release of radioactive substances into the environment.

Since the start of the nuclear crisis, authorities have detected excessive levels of radiation in vegetables, seafood, milk, water and tea leaves around eastern and north-eastern Japan.

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