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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's (FEHD) Centre for Food Safety (CFS) reiterated today (June 12) that a stringent monitoring system had been in place for vegetables and fruits imported from the Mainland.
The remarks were made in response to media enquiries about a report by an environmental concern group on pesticides found in vegetables and fruits sold on the Mainland.
A department spokesman said,ˇ°Vegetables sold on the Mainland are different from those destined for exports to Hong Kong.
ˇ°Vegetables exported to Hong Kong must come from registered farms/collection stations and be approved by the relevant Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.
ˇ°Relevant documents regarding the farms and pesticides used are inspected by our staff at the Man Kam To Food Control Office on arrival.
ˇ°The CFS also collects samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels for the testing of pesticide residues to safeguard public health.ˇ±
The spokesman said, ˇ°Of the some 20 000 samples of vegetables tested in 2005, only 10 of them were found unsatisfactory with trace amounts of pesticide residues.
ˇ°As for fruits, FEHD collected some 480 samples of different kinds of fruits at the import, wholesale and retail levels in the past three years. Among them, only one papaya sample collected in 2003 was found unsatisfactory with trace amount of pesticide residue.ˇ±
Concerning reports in mid-April on pesticide residues found in vegetables, inspection had been stepped up. Of the 39 follow-up samples taken, the results were all satisfactory. The CFS had also followed up the issue closely with the Mainland authorities and the concerned local supermarkets, including requesting the uploading of the list of registered vegetable farms by the Mainland authorities on their website. The supermarkets concerned had also agreed to take improvement measures to help trace sources of vegetables when there was such a need.
ˇ°A meeting between the department and the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the relevant Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureaux was held last week on food safety issues, including the monitoring of vegetables and fruits supplied to Hong Kong. The relevant authorities have agreed to strengthen their monitoring measures,ˇ± the spokesman said.
The FEHD also conducts from time to time joint operations with the Customs and Excise Department against food, including vegetables, from doubtful origin. As from January 2005, 24 vehicles transporting vegetables had been detained and some 10 tonnes of vegetables of doubtful origin had been disposed of.
Members of the public are advised to take the following measures in handling vegetables/fruits:
* Remove the outer leaves;
* Wash well in running water for several times;
* Immerse vegetables in water for an hour or blanch them in boiling water for one minute;
* Cook thoroughly before consumption; and
* Before eating fruits, wash them with water and avoid removing the skin by mouth.
Ends/Monday, June 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:17
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