The European Union has also stepped up the control on food imports from 12 Japanese prefectures over fear of radiation contamination from the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster.

The EU member states backed the proposal by the European Commission to impose special import requirements on food and feed products that come from 12 prefectures affected by the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant, European Voice reported on Friday.

The final decision was made by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

According to the requirements, all products from the 12 prefectures "have to be tested before leaving Japan and will be subject to random testing in the EU".

Japanese authorities will also have to provide declarations confirming that the radiation level in the products does not exceed the maximum permitted by the EU.

Importers of Japanese foods and products will be obliged to notify the national authorities two days before the arrival of the imports.

Products coming from the other 35 prefectures in Japan will have to be accompanied by declarations stating their place of origin. They will also undergo random testing when they arrive in the EU.

The exact date of production is another requirement. Products harvested or processed before March 11, the date of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, will not be subject to additional checks, the EC said.

In 2010, the EU imported EUR 187 M worth of agricultural products from Japan and EUR 18 M worth of fisheries products.

A number of countries have decided to impose ban on imports of Japanese food products, including vegetables and fruits, milk, sea wheat and seafood.

However, according to the Japanese External Trade Organization, the impact on overall trade is expected to be negligible because the country exported only USD 3.27 B worth of food products in 2009, while the value of its food imports stood at USD 53.5 B.

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