Expatica news

Japan halts imports of Dutch pork

1 February 2006

AMSTERDAM — Japan has imposed a temporary ban on imports of pork from the Netherlands. South Korea has taken a similar measure.

Dutch Agriculture Minister Cees Veerman said the ban relates to possible contamination of the meat by dioxin.

Veerman has ordered a suspension of trading by over 200 farm businesses linked to the scare about high levels of dioxin in pig fat. The Japanese authorities want the names of these businesses.

Veerman’s department has refused to release the information and the Japanese were not satisfied with the statement from a top veterinary official that the meat was safe.

Japan and South Korea are not major buyers of Dutch pork. Each of the countries takes 1.5 percent of the total export of pork from the Netherlands.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2006]

Subject: Dutch news