社説：放射能汚染牛 全頭検査で安全守れ

(Mainichi Japan) July 13, 2011
Testing system urgently needed after discovery of radiation-tainted beef
社説：放射能汚染牛　全頭検査で安全守れ

Radioactive cesium exceeding the government's provisional upper limit has been detected in the meat of Japanese black cattle shipped out from a farm in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture.
　福島県南相馬市の畜産農家が出荷した黒毛和牛から、国の暫定規制値を超える放射性セシウムが検出された。
Some meat shipped out from the same farm has already been consumed.
同じ農家が出荷した別の牛の肉は、一部が既に消費されていた。

It is said the meat does not pose a health threat unless it is consumed in large quantities on an ongoing basis, but the very fact that meat containing an excessive level of radiation has slipped into the market represents a failure on behalf of the Fukushima Prefectural Government, which is in charge of testing.
継続的に大量摂取しなければ健康に影響はないというが、規制値を超える食肉の流通を許したこと自体が、検査を担う県の失態だ。

Deficiencies in the checking system must be quickly amended.
チェック体制の不備を早急に改める必要がある。

The government must also provide support to alleviate the concerns of consumers and prevent the spread of harmful rumors.
消費者の不安を解消するとともに、いたずらな風評被害を防ぐには、国の支援も不可欠だ。

The farm from which the meat in question was shipped out is located within an emergency evacuation preparation zone established in the wake of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.
　問題の肉牛を出荷した農家は、東京電力福島第１原発事故に伴う緊急時避難準備区域内にある。

The Fukushima Prefectural Government has conducted external radiation checks on all cows shipped out from this area and the prefecture's planned evacuation zone, but checks on the meat have been restricted to sampled screening by local bodies across the country where the meat is processed.
県は、この区域と計画的避難区域から出荷される肉牛全頭について、体の表面の放射線量を検査している。しかし、肉そのものに関しては、解体処理する出荷先自治体のサンプル調査に任せていた。

In cases like this, in which cows have been exposed to radiation internally through their feed, officials can't check for radiation without actually testing the processed meat.
　今回のようにエサなどから内部被ばくしている場合、肉そのものを検査しなければ、チェックできない。

To find out what cows had been fed and how they had been raised, the Fukushima Prefectural Government had done no more than ask farmers.
県はエサの内容を含めた飼育状況についても、農家の申告を聞き取るだけで済ませてきた。

Its half-hearted approach to inspections ended up casting doubt on the safety of food products from the prefecture.
中途半端な検査体制が、県産品の安全性を疑わせる事態を招いたともいえる。

To prevent a recurrence, the prefectural government says it will launch emergency inspections covering all beef-cattle farms in the two evacuation zones and perform checks on all beef cattle that are shipped out, including checks for internal radiation.
　再発防止のため、福島県は両区域の肉牛農家を対象に、緊急の立ち入り調査を始め、出荷する肉牛については、内部被ばくも含めた全頭検査を実施するという。

It sees the measures as necessary to ease consumers' concerns and prevent the spread of harmful rumors.
消費者に安心を与え、風評被害を防ぐためにも、必要な対応と考える。

However, testing all cows is no easy task.
　しかし、全頭検査は、簡単ではなさそうだ。

In cases where the cows are processed into meat outside the prefecture, the prefectural government will ask other local bodies to conduct inspections, but parties on the receiving end lack the equipment and manpower to perform the checks.
県外で解体・食肉処理する分については、先方の自治体に検査を要請するが、受け入れ側も検査機材や人員などに余裕がない。

At the same time, there is a limit to how far cooperation between local bodies can go.
自治体間の協力では限界があり、

The central government must therefore also provide support.
国の支援が欠かせない状況だ。

Farm Minister Michihiko Kano and Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Ritsuo Hosokawa have both indicated they will lend their support.
鹿野道彦農相、細川律夫厚生労働相は、ともに支援の意向を表明した。

We urge the government to cooperate with the local bodies involved to quickly work out a concrete solution.
全頭検査実現のため、関係自治体と具体策の詰めを急いでほしい。

Needless to say, the issue has greatly impacted farmers in disaster areas.
　今回の問題は、被災地の農家にも大きな衝撃を与えた。

The Fukushima Prefectural Government has asked those in designated regions to refrain from shipping out beef cattle until a testing system is in place.
福島県は、検査体制が整うまで、対象区域の農家に肉牛出荷の自粛を求める。

From the perspective of consumer safety and peace of mind, this is a natural move, but for farmers who have struggled to produce safe meat after having faced the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent threat of radiation, it is no doubt very discouraging.
消費者の安全・安心を考えれば当然のことだが、震災と放射能の危険にさらされながら、安全な牛の飼育を目指してきた農家の落胆は大きいだろう。

Of concern is the fact that the prefecture's agriculture, forestry and fisheries division says there are no current prospects of determining when cows can been shipped out.
　しかも、「出荷が可能になる時期のめどは立たない」（県農林水産部）という。

To prevent farmers from losing hope, the government must quickly prepare an inspection system and provide compensation for those who are not able to ship out their cows.
農家の意欲が失われないよう、検査体制の整備とともに、出荷できない農家への補償も急ぐ必要がある。

Even after shipments resume, farmers will not be able to gather grass and rice straw to use as feed if radioactive materials remain in the soil.
　出荷可能になっても、土壌に放射性物質が残ったままでは、エサになる牧草や稲わらを採取できない。

To keep farms operating, decontamination work is vital.
営農継続には、除染作業が不可欠であり、

The government must act quickly.
国の迅速な対応が必要だ。

毎日新聞　2011年7月13日　2時32分