Thinking about calling Tokyo for a JDM engine on that Honda sitting outside?  Or many on the lookout for a deal on a used car from Japan?  Well… Some countries are having problems with Japanese automotive imports and higher-than-normal levels of radiation.

Jamaican Customs authorities this month revealed that two shipments of automobiles and parts from Japan came through Kingston, and the radiation levels were determined to be “elevated”.  One was a shipment of parts destined for Guyana in South America.  The other was used cars destined for the Jamaican market.

“It could be that there is a weakness in the inspection process on that side,” said Jamaica Commissioner of Customs Major Richard Reese, who made it clear that both shipments are being detained in a quarantined area and will be returned to Japan shortly.  Reese is seeking “urgent” talks on the issue with officials at the Japanese Embassy in Kingston.

Russia also has a heightened awareness of problems with Japanese imports.  Officials are stopping more than ten cars each month from entering Russia because the items can’t pass a sweep with a radiation detector. 

“In 2013, Russia has banned 165 batches of contaminated goods from entering the country.  There were mainly used cars – 132, and spare parts for vehicles – 33,” read a statement from Russia’s consumer watchdog agency Rospotrebnadzor.  Officials are even more concerned about radioactive fish imports.

Nearly three years ago, Japan was hit by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake which devastated the northeast coast, and triggered a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.