US blocks milk, produce from Japan near nuclear plant

Washington, March (ANTARA News/Reuters/AFP) - The United States will block imports of milk and fresh produce from areas of Japan near a crippled nuclear power plant, the Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday.

All milk and milk products and fresh fruits and vegetables from four Japanese prefectures -- Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma -- will be stopped from entering the United States, the FDA said in a statement.

AFP reported that Japan`s Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Wednesday ordered two prefectures affected by radiation leaks from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant to stop shipping a range of farm products.

Kan told prefectural governors to halt shipments of "komatsuna" green leaf vegetables and broccoli from Fukushima, and untreated milk and parsley from neighbouring Ibaraki, Jiji Press and other media said.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011