Japanese group wants blubber ban

Japanese consumer groups sought a ban on the import of Norwegian whale blubber Friday. Japan is one of the few countries that supports whaling, but the groups fear the Norwegian blubber may be toxic.

The five groups asked Norway not to allow the export of blubber to Japan, at the same time they asked Japanese authorities to ban its import.

The groups said tests by a private laboratory showed Norwegian whale blubber on average contained concentrations of toxic PCBs that were 7.6 times the Japanese government's maximum permissible level.

Yoko Tomiyama of the Consumers Union of Japan claimed the Norwegian blubber could therefore pose health risks, especially to pregnant mothers and small children.

A ban on exports to Japan would be a major blow to Norway's defiant whaling industry. Norwegian authorities announced just earlier this week that they would allow exports of whale meat and blubber.

(REUTERS)