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New standard limits

New standard limits for radioactive cesium in food

The provisional regulation values until March 2012 were based on a maximum permissible dose of 5mSv/year from radioactive cesium in food. Food was categorized into five groups: vegetables and fruits, grains, meat/eggs/fish, milk and dairy products, and drinking water.

In the new standard limits effective since April 1, 2012, the maximum permissible exposure to radioactivity in food is 1 mSv/year, in order to achieve further food safety and to boost consumer confidence. The new maximum permissible dose of radioactive cesium is 100 Bq/kg for food, 50 Bq/kg for milk and infant food, and 10 Bq/kg for drinking water.

Provisional Tolerance Values for Radioactive Substances in Fertilizer and Feed (Bq/kg)

Radioactive Cesium
Fertilizers, Soil improvement materials, Culture soil, Livestock bedding Feeds for cattle and horses *1 Feed for pigs *2 Feeds for domestic poultry *2 Feeds for cultured fish *3
400 100 80 160 40
*1 The weight of roughage is calculated assuming 80% moisture content, and the weight of other feed is the product weight.
*2 The weight of roughage is calculated assuming 80% moisture content, and the weight of other feed is the product weight.
*3 Product weight

Provisional Tolerance Values for Radioactive Substances in Sludge Fertilizers (Sludge fertilizers for farmers) (Bq/kg)

Radioactive Cesium
Sludge Fertilizer
200
General rule: If the concentration of Radioactive Cesium in raw sludge is less than 200 Bq/kg, the sludge can be used as raw material for sludge fertilizer.
Exception: If the concentration of Radioactive Cesium in the raw sludge is less than or equal to that of the farmland soil to which it is applied, and less than 1,000 Bq/kg, it can be used as a raw material for sludge fertilizer. (Expires as of the end of March 2013)

Current index value of firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating (Bq/kg)

Radioactive Cesium
Firewood (dry weight) Charcoal (dry weight)
40 280

Current index value of mushroom logs and culture medium for mushroom bed (Bq/kg)

Radioactive Cesium
Mushroom logs and Bed logs (dry weight) Culture medium for mushroom bed (dry weight)
50 200
Target of transitional measures: Indicator value of mushroom logs and bed logs (more than 50 Bq/kg and less than or equal to 150 Bq/kg)
The mushrooms can be used only within the prefecture under the condition that the prefecture where the mushroom producer using the mushroom logs subject to the transitional measures is located conducts a radioactive material inspection and confirms that the mushrooms do not exceed the standard values.