EU recommends checking Japanese food for radiation

The European Union is urging member states to check Japanese food imports for radioactivity following the country's nuclear crisis, a European Commission spokesman said today.

"A recommendation was issued via the rapid alert system for food and animal feed," which is a food safety European information exchange system, said the European Commission spokesman for health issues, Frederic Vincent.

The advice, which was issued yesterday, requires governments that conduct controls to inform the 27-nation EU if the level of radiation exceeds authorised levels.