JAPANESE INTERNAL AFFAIRS VICE MINISTER VISTIS TAIWAN|日副大臣來訪 斷交後來台最高層級官員

The Japanese government sent Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Jiro Akama to Taiwan as its representative for the opening of a tourism promotion event held by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. Akama is the highest-level Japanese government minister to visit Taiwan since Japan broke off diplomatic ties. In his address, Akama thanked Taiwan for helping Japan during the Tohoku Mar. 11 Earthquake and said that it was a pity Taiwan could not enjoy foods from affected areas such as Fukushima, even though they have undergone thorough inspections and are sold across the world, an implied rebuke to Taiwan's refusal to allow imports of food from Fukushima. However, alcoholic drinks are not currently considered foods under the import ban, so sake from Fukushima is already on Taiwan shelves. Civic groups are demanding that the government publish inspection reports for such products. Japan's Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Jiro Akama is in Taiwan for a tourism promotion event held by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. In his address, Akama thanked Taiwan's assistance in providing relief for the Mar. 11 Earthquake, and then emphasized that reconstruction efforts in affected areas such as Fukushima are complete and that food from these areas are safe to eat. ==JIRO AKAMA Japanese Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications== Foods from five Japanese prefectures are still banned from import into Taiwan. They have undergone thorough inspection, and are widely sold in and out of Japan. But here in Taipei one still cannot enjoy them. Akama is the highest-level Japanese official to visit Taiwan in 44 years since Japan broke off relations with the ROC. He said that, though food from Fukushima is safe, public opinion in Taiwan must also be assuaged. He toured the booths operated by Japanese companies and drank Fukushima-made sake. Though the FDA still does not allow the import of food from areas in Japan affected by the nuclear incident, alcoholic drinks are not under the FDA's purview and may be imported after passing inspection. ==HUANG CHIA-LIN Director, Mom Loves Taiwan Foundation== Under public pressure, they have said that they've begun the so-called batch inspection. But we don't see much-related information on their website. This has always been a major loophole in the management of our imports. Civic groups say that, though foods from affected areas are banned from importing, alcoholic drinks are not covered by the ban and inspection reports are unavailable. They are calling on the government for greater transparency to create more trust in the public. TRANSLATED BY：JOHN CHEN 日本台灣交流協會在這個週末舉辦觀光宣傳活動，日方派出總務副大臣赤間二郎出席開幕典禮，這是台日斷交以來，來台最高層級官員，赤間二郎在致詞時，除了感謝台灣對日本311地震的幫助，也意有所指表示，福島等災區食品在日本經過周全檢查並在世界各地銷售，很可惜在台灣吃不到。不過，目前酒類沒有歸類在食品項目，福島等核災區的酒早就進口台灣，民間團體要求政府，應公開輻射檢驗的報告。 擔任剪綵佳賓，日本現任總務副大臣赤間二郎，來台出席日本台灣交流協會舉辦的日本觀光宣傳活動，赤間二郎在致詞中，先是鞠躬致意，對台灣全力協助日本311賑災表達謝意，話鋒一轉，強調福島等災區已經重建完畢，災區食品也沒有安全疑慮。 ==日本總務副大臣 赤間二郎== 針對台灣管制進口的 日本五縣所生產的食品 也已經透過周全的檢查 在日本國內與國外廣泛的銷售 不過目前在台北 還沒有這樣的狀況 大家還吃不到 這是台日斷交44年以來，訪台最高層級官員，赤間二郎表示，災區食品已安全無虞，不過也要顧慮台灣民意，他也親自一一走訪展出的日本廠商攤位，舉杯大口喝下福島釀造的清酒，目前，雖然食藥署仍未解禁日本核災縣市食品輸台，但酒類屬於財政部國庫署列管，不在食品範圍，是逐批檢驗後進口，因此在台灣還是可以買得到。 == 媽媽監督核電廠聯盟理事 黃嘉琳== 是在民眾的壓力之下 他們也開始說 有所謂的逐批查驗 不過目前我們也都不會在官網上 看到太多的資料 這個部分一直都是我們 在管理的時候 特別是 進口的管理的時候很大的漏洞 民間團體質疑，日本核災食品不能進口，酒類卻不受限，逐批檢驗的報告也沒有細目公佈，呼籲相關單位讓資訊更公開透明，讓民眾買得安心。 記者薛宜家 彭耀祖 台北報導。