XN000022-1994-11-10 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1994

ACCREDITED FARM SCHEME LAUNCHED

AN

"ACCREDITED

1

FARM SCHEME" WHICH ENABLES CONSUMERS TO IDENTIFY PREMIUM, SAFE VEGETABLES WILL ВЕ LAUNCHED TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

ANNOUNCING THE SCHEME AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (THURSDAY), THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID: "THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ACCREDITED FARM SCHEME MARKS A NEW ERA IN THE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF PREMIUM SAFE VEGETABLES.'

IT IS JOINTLY IMPLEMENTED

마

BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

DEPARTMENT (AFD) AND THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION (VMO).

"THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME IS TO HELP CONSUMERS IDENTIFY AND PURCHASE SAFE VEGETABLES PRODUCED BY ACCREDITED

FARMS, MONITORED AT THE PRODUCTION STAGE BY THE AFD AND SAMPLE CHECKED ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES BY VMO," DR LEE SAID.

THROUGH MONITORING AND SUPERVISION ON THE SAFE USE OF PESTICIDES AT THE PRODUCTION END, DR LEE HOPED THAT THE SCHEME COULD HELP TACKLE THE CONTAMINATED VEGETABLE ISSUE.

BEFORE BEING MARKETED, THE PRODUCE HAS TO UNDERGO SEVERAL STEPS OF CONTROL TO ENSURE THAT THEY REACH THE REQUIRED SAFETY STANDARD.

THE

FIRST, THE FARMS HAVE TO BE ACCREDITED BY THE AFD BASED ON USE OF GOOD HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES. THESE FARMS WILL BE SUPERVISED AND MONITORED BY THE DEPARTMENT ON THE SAFE USE OF PESTICIDES DURING THE PRODUCTION PERIOD. SAMPLE CHECKS ON THE PRODUCE WILL ALSO BE CARRIED OUT AT THE FIELD.

AT THE WHOLESALE LEVEL IN THE VMO MARKET, THE ACCREDITED PRODUCE WILL BE DISTINGUISHED BY SPECIALLY-LABELLED PLASTIC BASKETS. FURTHER PESTICIDE SCREENING TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY VMO TO ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCE CONTAIN NO EXCESSIVE PESTICIDE RESIDUES.

RETAIL

THESE VEGETABLES WILL THEN BE PUT ON SALE AT ACCREDITED OUTLETS, INCLUDING SUPERMARKETS, RETAIL STALLS AT WET MARKETS AND RESTAURANTS. THEY CAN BE EASILA IDENTIFIED THROUGH LABELS OF ACCREDITED RETAILERS ISSUED BY THE VMO.

KWU

THE SCHEME WILL INITIALLY COVER SOME 50 VEGETABLE FARMS IN TA LING AND SHEK KONG. AT THE RETAIL END, IT WILL INVOLVE OVER 35 VEGETABLE SALES STALLS, 10 RESTAURANTS AND A MAJOR SUPERMARKET CHAIN.

THE FIRST LOT OF VEGETABLES TO BE MARKETED THROUGH THIS SCHEME WILL INCLUDE SPINACH, LETTUCE, WHITE CABBAGE, GARLAND'S CHRYSANTHEMUM AND SUPERSWEET CORN.

RESPONSE

DR LEE STRESSED THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME WOULD DEPEND VERY MUCH ON EFFORTS OF THE VARIOUS PARTIES AS WELL AS THE AND SUPPORT OF CONSUMERS.

/HE HOPED