Russian authorities have seized a shipment of used import cars from Japan on fears of radiation contamination – but according to a testing agency, the chances of such contamination slipping through to the Southern Hemisphere are slim.
The shipment of 132 cars was one of 165 different shipments seized on the Russian border late last year over ongoing contamination fears from the tsunami-devastated Fukushima nuclear power station.
However, vehicles entering port facilities in Japan have been tested for radiation since late 2011. They are not allowed into port land if contamination is found.
Leading inspection firm JEVIC is one of the companies tasked with providing radiation testing, and spokesperson Euan Philpot notes the chances of contaminated vehicles coming here is slim.
“All vehicles are subject to the radiation check on entry to Japanese ports,” Philpot explains.
“We are aware that a number of shipments had been stopped in 2013,” Philpot says, noting they were not aware of this specific case.
“A possible cause for the seizures is that it is apparent that there is a differential between the measurement levels used on arrival, to the measurement levels applicable in Japan.
“It is not that radiation levels have increased,” says Philpot.
