Brussels has forged a trade deal with Japan that removes controls over radioactivity levels on foods produced on the island following the 2011 nuclear disaster, The Telegraph reports. As a result, Britain will soon be selling goods from the disaster-hit area including baby food, breakfast cereals, fish crustaceans, meat and green tea. Current plans do not allow for the contaminated products to be labelled, meaning consumers will not be aware the food contains traces of radioactive substances.

In recent years scientists have found faint traces of the radioactive isotopes Caesium 137 and 134 in food grown near Fukushima.

But experts have deemed the food perfectly safe, with radiation levels being stringently monitored by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Despite the reassurances the food is safe to eat, many have called for the produce to be labelled so shoppers can decide whether to purchase the goods.

Tory candidate Neil Parish, who chaired the environment, food and rural affairs committee from July 2017 – November 2019, said the UK needed to review the policy after Brexit.

He told the Telegraph: “We don’t need this trade. If the Japanese won’t eat this stuff, why should we?

“It may well be safe according to the scientists. But I think people have a right to know exactly what they are eating.

“All of these products should be clearly labelled.

“And I think one of the benefits of Brexit is that we’ll be able to look at this again in due course.”

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French MEP Michèle Rivasi also opposes the plans and is set to raise a last minute objection to the lifting of controls at the European Parliament next week.

She said: “If controls are lifted we will have no way of gauging how much caesium is in your rice or your lobster.

“Contaminated goods will swamp the European marketplace from Birmingham to Biarritz.

“At the moment 100 Becquerels of radioactivity per kilo are permissible, even for cereals eaten by children.

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“For baby foods it is 50 Becquerels and should be zero.”

The EU deal means radiation inspection certificates will no longer be needed, except for certain fish products, mushrooms and wild vegetables.

In exchange, the EU will be allowed to sell to Japan limitless quantities of reduced tariff French champagne, foie gras, cognac, and wine.

Britain will be forced to replicate EU food regulations until December 2020, as the UK will still be governed by the Brexit transition period.

After this period, if the transition period is not extended, the UK Government will be free it set its own laws.

A spokesman from the Department of International Trade said: “Without exception, imports into the UK will meet our stringent food safety standards.”

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