Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ12: Organic products

Following is a question by the Dr Hon Joseph Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (March 8):

Question:

A sample survey conducted by the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre in September last year revealed that only 5% and 33% respectively of the samples of fruits and staple crops collected from the market bore an organic food label certified by an independent body. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective market shares and sale situation of various types of organic foods over the past three years;

(b) of the types, places of origin and market shares of organic foods available on the market at present, with a breakdown by whether or not the organic food labels concerned have been certified by an independent body;

(c) whether it plans to introduce legislation to require that organic food labels on the packages of food shall be certified by an authorised independent body; if not, the reasons for that; and

(d) of the measures in place to promote local organic farming and organic foods, and increase the market shares of such types of foods?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Whilst we do not have the relevant statistics, we note that organic products do command a higher price and the market for such products in Hong Kong is modest. A total of 850 tonnes of organic vegetables were produced in local farms in Hong Kong.

(b) We do not have the relevant statistics but we observe that large supermarkets usually carry organic foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, spaghetti, beans, cereals, soya milk, honey and meat. Except for fresh vegetables, all these products are imported from other countries or places, including the Mainland, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Italy and Germany.

(c) From the perspective of food safety, there is no significant difference between the risk of organic food and conventional food. Their difference mainly lies in the method of production, processing and handling. Whether or not the organic labelling is certified by independent body would not bring about concrete improvements on food safety. We do not consider that there is any pressing need to introduce legislation to require organic food labels on the packages of food to be certified by authorised independent body.

(d) We will continue to provide technical support to our local organic farms to help enhance their competitiveness and further develop the market for organic products. We will also help the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre to develop various certification services and promote the local organic agricultural products amongst the public in Hong Kong. In fact, the number of organic farms has been rising steadily from 39 in December 2004 to 50 at present. Local farms and plants that have been awarded organic certificates have also increased from four in June 2005 to 21 in December 2005.




Ends/Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:29

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