EFSA is closely monitoring the recent incident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in the northeast of the country on March 11^th 2011.

The European Commission Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) is co-ordinating the response to this incident in the EU with the support of the Joint Research Centre. DG ENER is also responsible for the legislation concerning radioactive levels in food and for introducing, if necessary, a safeguard clause to impose radioactive tests.

Although EFSA is not involved in risk assessment of radiation contamination, we remain ready to provide technical assistance and support in the area of food and feed safety as required. In particular, if there is a need to assess possible exposure through food and feed, EFSA is able to contribute and analyse data gathered in its comprehensive food consumption database.

Member States and the European Commission are exchanging the latest information on radiation contamination from Japan through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange System (ECURIE).

To date, the Commission has not requested EFSA to carry out any scientific work related to food or feed safety as a result of this incident. EFSA will continue to liaise closely with the Commission and food safety authorities in Europe, the Food Safety Commission of Japan and other non-EU food safety authorities.

Further information: 

• The European Union's response to the earthquake and nuclear plant situation in Japan - European Commission
• Food safety: the EU reinforces controls on imports from Japan  - European Commission
• FAQs: Japan nuclear concerns - World Health Organization