Guest guest Posted August 1, 2002 Report Share Posted August 1, 2002 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20020801b6.htm BLUBBER MAY BE 'MONTHS' AWAY PCB talks vital to Norway whale exports LONDON (Kyodo) Norway said Tuesday that more scientific discussions with Japan are needed over the measurement of contaminants in whale products before the countries can start trading in whale meat and blubber. Johan Williams, director general of the department of marine resources and the environment at the Norwegian Fisheries Ministry, said scientists and officials will meet in Japan within the next few months to discuss the issue. Speaking over the phone from Oslo, Williams said that while the new round of negotiations would delay the launch of exports from Norway to Japan, he remained optimistic. " Time-wise, this is a hurdle, but we believe that when we go though all these exercises, we will be able to provide Japan with meat and blubber, " he said. He added, however, that " it will take months " before the first shipment of whale meat goes to Japan. According to Williams, Japanese officials told their Norwegian counterparts at a meeting in Oslo on Tuesday that tests conducted on a small sample of Norwegian blubber showed that the toxic polychlorinated biphenyl concentration was higher than that permitted by Japanese health authorities. Williams said the PCB results from Japan were not so different from those taken in Norway, but officials will need to compare measurement-taking methods to give the Japanese faith in Norway's exports and PCB measurements. He said the PCB-measuring process is different in Japan and Norway, and officials are trying to come up with a common standard. " We have to look at whether this (higher PCB level) is due to the Japanese testing methods or whether there may be higher concentrations of PCB in certain parts of the blubber than in other areas, " he said. " It's important that the tests are calibrated. " Williams said the meeting in Oslo was " very nice. " Both sides, he said, agreed their tests on the DNA of whale products came up with similar results, were therefore compatible and are no longer an issue between the two sides. A number of samples of red whale meat will soon be sent to Japan for PCB and mercury content tests, but Williams said he is confident there won't be any problems. Officials from both countries rounded off their one-day meeting with dinner at a Japanese restaurant, including whale meat. Norway is eager to start exporting whale products to Japan, which it sees as a lucrative market. Blubber, a delicacy, appears particularly attractive. Last week, Norway exported whale meat to Iceland for the first time since 1988. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species outlaws trade in minke whale products. Both Norway and Japan have lodged reservations against the listing of minkes in the convention, thereby allowing the trade to proceed legally. Norway claims its whaling is based on the principle of sustainable resource management. The Japan Times: Aug. 1, 2002 © All rights reserved Health - Feel better, live better http://health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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