XN000022-1990-07-11 — Page 34

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1990

32

LIMITS ON PESTICIDE RESIDUE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE SET

* * * * * * * *

IN

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY SET LIMITS ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES

RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE JOINT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE HAVING REGARD TO FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION/WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (FAO/WHO) CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND HON

WONG, ELIZABETH

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WELFARE,

THE

THE

HON

NOTING THAT MOST OF HONG KONG'S FRESH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE CAME FROM OR THROUGH SHENZHEN, MRS WONG SAID FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE

AND SHENZHEN IMPORT

EXPORT INSPECTION COMMODITY BUREAU IN 1988,

BUREAU BEEN REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO THE FARMERS IN CHINA HAD PARTICULARS OF THE KINDS AND CONCENTRATIONS OF PESTICIDES THEIR EXPORT VEGETABLE CROPS, THE DATES OF APPLICATION AND HARVESTING.

"THIS

WRITTEN APPLIED TO.

ALLOWS THE

SUPPLEMENTED BY RANDOM TESTS, INFORMATION, BUREAU TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEGETABLES ARE SAFE FOR FOOD.

"IF So, THE PRODUCE WILL BE CLEARED BY THEM FOR EXPORT AND TAGGED FOR IDENTIFICATION," SHE SAID.

CLOSE

OF FOR BEING

MRS WONG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT HEALTH

WATCH AT BORDER CONTROL POINTS KEPT A STATIONED UNTAGGED OR INADEQUATELY-TAGGED VEGETABLES TO PREVENT THEM FROM CHANNELLED INTO THE LOCAL MARKET.

"SUCH PRODUCE IS DETAINED AND HUMAN CONSUMPTION, BE DESTROYED.'

17

MAY, IF FOUND

UNSUITABLE

FOR

PESTICIDE

INSPECTION OF IMPORTED PRODUCE FOR TAGGING WAS AUGMENTED BY SCREENING TESTS AND SAMPLING FOR LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF ANY RESIDUES, BOTH AT BORDER CROSSING POINTS AND ALSO AT THE CHEUNG SHA WAN VEGETABLE WHOLESALE MARKET.

"I

"LOCALLY-PRODUCED VEGETABLES ARE SUBJECT TO SIMILAR ROUTINE SAMPLING AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THE DISTRIBUTION

MRS WONG PROCESS,

ADDED.

THE

PESTICIDE

TOGETHER THESE MEASURES SHOULD PREVENT POISONING CAUSED BY

PRODUCE CONTAINING EXCESS

CONSUMPTION OF AGRICULTURAL RESIDUE, MRS WONG STRESSED.

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