XN000022-1993-04-21 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

THERE

19

IMPORTED GRAPES FREE FROM PESTICIDE RESIDUE

HAS NOT BEEN ANY CASE OF GRAPES FOUND WITH PESTICIDE RESIDUE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IF THERE HAD BEEN, SHE ADDED, THE GRAPES WOULD HAVE BEEN

DESTROYED.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALBERT CHAN WAI- YIP, MRS WONG NOTED THAT 16 SAMPLES OF GRAPES, 15 OF WHICH WERE IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES, WERE TAKEN FOR EXAMINATION LAST YEAR.

PESTICIDE RESIDUE WAS FOUND IN ANY OF THE SAMPLES TAKEN,

"NO

SHE SAID.

11

MRS WONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MAINTAINED CLOSE LIATRON WITH COUNTRIES EXPORTING FOOD TO HONG KONG AND REQUIRED FROM THE EXPORTING AUTHORITY FOOD TEST REPORTS ON THE EXPORT ITEMS.

"UNDER ITS FOOD SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME. THE DEPARTMENT REGULARLY TAKES SAMPLES OF IMPORTED FOOD, INCLUDING FRUITS, FROM POINTS OF ENTRY AND RETAIL OR WHOLESALE OUTLETS FOR EXAMINATION.

"ANY FOOD ITEM CONSIDERED UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WILL BE DENIED IMPORT," SHE SAID.

METALLIC CONCENTRATIONS IN FOOD CLOSELY MONITORED

ON

REPORTS

THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY PUBLISH ON A REGULAR BASIS THE RESULTS OF FOOD TESTING FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRISTINE LOH KUNG- WAI, MRS WONG SAID BACTERIOLOGICAL, METALLIC AND PESTICIDE CONTENT IN FOOD IN HONG KONG WAS MONITORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THROUGH ITS FOOD SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME.

METALS

SHE SAID THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY WERE SET OUT IN THE FOOD ADULTERATION (METALLIC CONTAMINATION) REGULATIONS WITH REFERENCE TO GUIDELINES INCLUDING THE PROVISIONAL TOLERABLE WEEKLY INTAKE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH (WHO).

"THE STANDARDS SPELT OUT IN OUR LAW ARE CONSIDERED AND IN LINE WITH WHO GUIDELINES," SHE STATED.

ORGANISATION

APPROPRIATE

"IT IS NOT CORRECT TO SAY THAT OUR STANDARDS ARE LESS STRINGENT THAN THOSE OF MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE OR AUSTRALIA.

/"THERE IS