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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's (FEHD) Centre for Food Safety (CFS) reiterated today (June 20) that proactive measures had been taken to safeguard public health following reports in mid-April of pesticide residues in vegetables.
"Follow-up action had been taken immediately and a total of 39 vegetable samples were collected from the concerned supermarkets. The test results were subsequently all found to be satisfactory and were released to the public," a CFS spokesman said.
"To facilitate the trade to have a better understanding of sources of vegetables, the FEHD had at the same time contacted the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine requesting prompt uploading of the list of registered vegetable farms/collection stations for vegetable export to Hong Kong onto their website. The department's website has now created a link with the relevant webpage.
"The department had also followed up the issue with the two supermarkets and forwarded information supplied by them relating to vegetables with reported excessive pesticide residues to the Mainland authorities for further action."
The spokesman said the supermarkets concerned had been urged to purchase vegetables from registered farms/collection stations on the Mainland. The supermarkets had undertaken to take follow-up measures, including stopping imports of vegetables from unregistered farms/collection stations. They would also ask their suppliers to provide relevant documents issued by the Mainland authorities.
"The Mainland authorities have also agreed to step up inspections on vegetables to be exported to Hong Kong. FEHD officers will inspect the relevant documents regarding the farms and pesticides used at the Man Kam To Food Control Office. The department will work closely with the Customs and Excise Department and conduct joint operations against food, including vegetables, from doubtful sources," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 22:01
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