XN000022-1993-08-07 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1993

AFD STEPS UP VEGETABLE CHECKS

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS STEPPED UP SAMPLING OF IMPORTED VEGETABLES, ESPECIALLY FROM SHENZHEN AND BUJI, FOR CHECKING OF CONTAMINANTS AT THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION'S CHEUNG SHA WAN WHOLESALE VEGETABLE MARKET.

THE NUMBER OF SAMPLES HAS INCREASED FROM THE DAILY ROUTINE OF 100 TO 200.

THE STEPPED-UP ACTION WILL CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY.

INITIAL RESULTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY ON SAMPLES SENT FOR TESTING YESTERDAY HAVE INDICATED NO PRESENCE OF NITRATES OR OTHER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN ITS MONITORING FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUE AS SOME FARMERS MAY HARVEST THEIR PRODUCE EARLIER THAN USUAL.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO CHECK VEGETABLES

THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (SATURDAY) CONTINUED THE MONITORING OF FOOD INCLUDING VEGETABLES IMPORTED FROM CHINA AT THE BORDER CHECK POINTS.

SINCE THE BLAST IN SHENZHEN, 111 LORRY-LOADS OF VEGETABLES FROM CHINA HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND NO CONTAMINATION HAS BEEN DETECTED.

THIRTY SAMPLES OF VEGETABLES HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY FOR TESTS OF CONTAMINATION ARISING FROM THE BLAST, IN PARTICULAR OF ANY POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION BY AMMONIUM NITRATES.

SO FAR,

14 OF THE SAMPLES HAVE NEGATIVE RESULTS SHOWING EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINATION. LABORATORY RESULTS FOR THE REMAINING SAMPLES ARE PENDING.

NO

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MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR VEGETABLES OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED то OBSERVE GOOD HYGIENIC THOROUGHLY WASH VEGETABLES AND COOK WELL BEFORE CONSUMPTION.

PRACTICES,

J

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