Tests of domestic tobacco begun after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster show radiation at acceptable levels, Japan Tobacco said today.

Pre-purchase testing of flue-cured Virginia tobacco from 35 samples taken from four prefectures has been completed. None of the tested leaves exceeded the company’s provisional standard of 500 becquerels (Bq) per kilogram of radioactive cesium and 2,000 Bq per kg of radioactive iodine, JT said in a statement. There was no tobacco harvested this year in Fukushima Prefecture, JT said. Tests of remaining native tobacco and the domestic burley crop will begin in mid-September.
JT expanded its quality assurance system in response to radioactive leaks at the TEPCO nuclear plant after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. Pre-purchase leaf testing began in mid-August. JT said it will continue spot-checks throughout the production process.
All of Japan’s usable tobacco is purchased by JT, as required by the country’s Tobacco Busuiness Law. Prior to starting the tests, JT said domestic sales volume was down almost 20 per cent in the year following a record hike in the tobacco tax last October. (ci)