The Japanese government has ordered Fukushima and three other prefectures today to suspend shipments of spinach and another leaf vegetable following the detection of radioactive substances in the produce at levels beyond legal limits,

In surrounding prefectures of Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma, raw milk shipments have also been halted.

Data from Japan's Agriculture Ministry said 17.4 percent of total spinach shipments in 2009 came from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma prefectures. Moreover, some 60 percent of the spinach shipped to the Tokyo central wholesale market in late March 2010 was grown in the four prefectures.

Vegetable and dairy farmers who will be affected by the restrictions on shipments," Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Yukio Edano said the measure is premised on ''appropriate compensation'' to be provided by the government because they will be affected by a regulatory measure it has imposed.

Sakae Muto, vice president of the nuclear power plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said in a press briefing that the company would pay the compensation to affected farmers over the suspension of their export shipments.

Kyodo News reported high levels of radioactive substances were also detected in seawater near the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, according to the plant operator TEPCO. The company said it is too early to assess the impact on fishery products.

Japanese government spokesman Mr. Edano said the readings for radioactive substances found in the farm produce were at levels exceeding provisional limits set under the Food Sanitation Law but ''aren't readings that would affect humans.''

''Eating food with (radioactive levels) exceeding provisional limits isn't going to affect your health,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano added, urging the public not to panic over the findings.

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