PETALING JAYA: Malaysia only imports two types of saltwater fish from Japan for local consumption, says the Fisheries Department.
The fish, imported frozen, are sardine and mackerel, it said.
“As for the import of live fish, the country only brings in freshwater ornamental fish such as the koi (Cyprinus carpio) from Japan, not saltwater fish,” it added in a statement yesterday.
The department said it would ensure that fish products in the market are free from contaminants.
It also reminded all importers to adhere to the law and ensure that each consignment is issued with a health certificate by the Japanese authorities.
“All import consignments must also apply for an import permit from the Malaysian Quarantine Inspection Services Department (Maqis),” the department said.
The statement came in the wake of Japan’s move to release treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.
This has led to concerns raised by several quarters here over the safety of fish products from the land of the rising sun, after countries like China and South Korea stopped importing seafood from Japan.
The Health Ministry has imposed a Level 4 (surveillance) inspection on high-risk food products imported from Japan, including the monitoring of radioactive material content at international entry points.
On Sunday, a “Raise Your Voice, Stop the Discharge of Nuclear Wastewater into the Ocean” mass petition drive was held at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Semenyih, Selangor.
Similar petition drives will be held at selected centres of the company in the Klang Valley from Sept 2 to 10.
The petition has so far received tens of thousands of signatures from concerned Malaysians.
The petition will be handed over to the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
