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The earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan in 2011 resulted in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The nuclear power plant was heavily damaged and is being held responsible for high radiation levels in products from Japan. Radiation on Japanese cars is also a primary concern, as these are shipped by the thousands to the millions of consumers around the world. While automakers Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have said their cars were not affected by the radiation, there is still the matter of pre-owned cars. Radiation concerns Radioactive materials from the nuclear disaster are said to have settled on a car’s body, windows, and seats, and cannot be simply brushed off. These materials are carcinogenic and may result in the formation of cancerous cells in the body. Radiation can also cause infertility, birth defects and irreversible DNA alterations that affect future generations. Japanese and Local Government Testing To ease the worries among foreign consumers, Japanese automakers started checking the radiation levels on the cars they export to other countries. To protect their citizens from the effects of radiation from vehicles (both new and used) from Japan, national governments have installed radiation testing equipments at all ports of entry. One of the first governments to implement radiation testing was Australia, testing 700 vehicles in June 2011, and it continues today. Shipments to Africa Africa is one of the most common destinations of used cars from Japan. The country of Uganda imports around four thousand vehicles on a monthly basis. Nigeria is also a top market because the citizens prefer to buy the more affordable secondhand units than brand-new ones. Because of the dangers posed by radiation on Japanese cars, Kenya and Tanzania banned Japanese import cars immediately until they were able to acquire radiation-testing equipment. Pre-shipment Inspection Japan has also put in place another inspection process that all vehicles go through prior to shipment. It is a radiation inspection to make sure that all vehicles about to be exported are tested and certified for the absence of radioactive contamination. The Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center, or JEVIC, is the company that has been accredited by many African governments such as Kenya and Nigeria for the radioactive testing. JEVIC screens vehicles and heavy machinery, containerized cargo, and conveyance vessels. JEVIC has the best in high-tech radiation testing equipment that can accurately check radiation on Japanese cars. After inspection, JEVIC will issue a Radiation Inspection certificate for the car and label it “radiation free.” The inspection standards of JEVIC are based in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code and the Safety Standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. If you are interested in importing a pre-owned vehicle from Japan, make sure that it undergoes not only a roadworthiness inspection but a thorough radiation inspection as well, even if your country does not require it. This is for your own health and safety. Spending a little more on inspection can save you a lifetime of health problems and also give you a certain peace of mind that the car you are driving is safe and poses no radioactive risk to anyone. So remember, always check for radiation on Japanese cars!
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