Press Releases
SFH on vegetable sources (English portion)
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and
Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session at the Legislative Council
Building today (April 1):
Reporter: (Steps to be taken to ensure the safety and sourcing of
vegetables)
Secretary for Food and Health: As you know we have been doing a lot of
surveillance on the safety of vegetable since the outbreak of poisoning
about ten years ago. In the last ten years or so, the audit tests that we
have done, both at the boundary as well as at our retail front have always
been highly satisfactory. The satisfactory rate is over 99.9%. Of course,
the matter of concern here is not only on safety, but rather the vegetables
come from the so-called "registered farms" that are designated for export to
Hong Kong. Since this affects the export certification, and also some of the
operation on the Mainland, I think we have to request the Mainland to
investigate all these and make sure that there is no abuse of the system.
Reporter: (Registration by safety?)
Secretary for Food and Health: Yes. The registration system and the safety
certification are done by the Shenzhen authorities. And so far, the
certificates we have received are genuine certificates. But at the same
time, when we actually have any doubts on the certificates, we do our tests.
And so far, it is proven that all the tests we have done for all the alleged
suspected cases are negative for any prohibited substances.
Reporter: (Asked the Mainland authorities�K)
Secretary for Food and Health: We have requested them to look at the system
of controlling the export to Hong Kong, because in this case they have a
centre to centralise all the exports to Hong Kong from various provinces to
Shenzhen. The management and the administration are done by their officials.
They are responsible for issuing the certificates.
Reporter: (Responsibility on that side of the border or this side?)
Secretary for Food and Health: It is our responsibility to ensure that the
vegetables that come to Hong Kong are safe. On top of the recognition of the
certification, it is also our duty, in the case of doubt, we will strengthen
our tests. We have random tests and we also have designated tests. And if we
have any doubt, we always strengthen our tests. And so far we have been
maintaining a high level of safety of vegetables here. Regarding the
genuineness of the certificates and also the process of issuing
certificates, I think it is the Mainland authorities' responsibilities.
Reporter: Any additional points that you would like to make regarding the
vegetables but have not been asked in English?
Secretary for Food and Health: I think our direction of having a new food
safety law is very important. In that aspect, we will be requesting all the
importers and also the retailers to keep track of the transactions, and
where they obtain the goods. So with that it will be able to help us trace
any unsafe food items wherever they come from. So I think this is one of the
important aspects that we have to do within the next year or so.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese session of the transcript)
Ends/Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:26
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