Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ16: Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables
Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Acting
Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Gabriel Leung, in the Legislative
Council today (January 12):
Question:
An environmental concern group recently took 18 samples of the vegetables and
fruits on sale in local supermarkets for tests, and the result was that 38
different kinds of pesticide residues were detected in these samples, some of
which even contained highly toxic pesticide residues. The Government stated in
its paper to this Council in November 2010 that it would enact legislation, and
was "further refining the proposed regulatory framework for pesticide residues
in food, and setting statutory maximum residue limits for different kinds of
food involving about 400 pesticides". The authorities also proposed to develop a
list of "exempted substances". In addition, under the Directive (2009/128/EC) of
the European Union (EU) on establishing a framework for Community action to
achieve the sustainable use of pesticides, individual Member States of the
European Union are required to set quantitative objectives, specific measures
and timetables accordingly to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human
health and the environment. In this connection, will the Government inform this
Council:
(a) of the anticipated time for introducing the aforesaid bill into the
Legislative Council for scrutiny;
(b) whether the authorities had studied in the past three years if the effects
of mixed pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits which contain more than one
type of pesticide residue would exceed the aggregation of the individual effects
of such pesticide residues; if they had conducted such a study, of the outcome;
how the Government will regulate the level of pesticide residues in vegetables
and fruits which contain more than one type of pesticide residue;
(c) of the names of the 400 pesticides which the Government intends to regulate;
(d) of the number of the types of the exempted substances to be proposed,
together with a list of the names of such substances; and
(e) whether it will follow the approach of EU by requiring local registered
vegetable farms and those on the Mainland which supply vegetables to Hong Kong
to reduce using pesticides; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for
that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has always been concerned about the possible effects of pesticide
residues in food to public health. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) regularly
takes food samples, including fruits, vegetables and cereals at import,
wholesale and retail levels to assess whether the pesticide residues are
hazardous to human health. To better protect public health, facilitate effective
regulatory control and promote harmonisation between local and international
standards, the Government proposes to introduce new legislation to regulate
pesticide residues in food in Hong Kong.
The responses to each part of the question are set out below:
(a) We will consult stakeholders and the public regarding our proposed
regulatory framework and plan to introduce the relevant legislation into the
Legislative Council (LegCo) towards the end of 2011.
(b) On the potential combined toxicity effects of more than one pesticide
residues present in fruits and vegetables, international organisations including
the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
are still exploring suitable scientific assessment methods. At present, there is
no consensus internationally. However, the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide
Residues considered that the safety factors used for establishing acceptable
daily intakes for pesticides have already provided a sufficient margin of safety
to cope with the potential combined toxicity effects and protect public health.
These factors will be considered in establishing the residue limits for
pesticides in the proposed new legislation.
We will closely monitor the research development in this area.
(c) The list of pesticides for which residue limits will be established in the
proposed new legislation was set out in the consultation document entitled
"Proposed Regulatory Framework for Pesticide Residues in Food in Hong Kong"
published in 2007 (see Annex).
Prior to introducing the relevant legislation into the LegCo, the Government
will update the proposed list of pesticides and residue limits, making reference
to the latest standards adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex),
the Mainland and other major food supplying countries. The number of pesticides
to be regulated may then be adjusted.
(d) In order to encourage the use of natural pesticides by the trade, we propose
to provide for a list of "exempted substances" in the regulatory framework. An
"exempted substance" must fall under the definition of pesticide laid down by
the Codex and meet one of the following criteria:
(i) the use of the pesticides does not result in residues occurring in food;
(ii) the residues are identical to or indistinguishable from natural food
components; or
(iii) the residues are of no toxicological significance or will not pose any
public health risk.
Although a list of "exempted substances" is not available from the Codex, the
CFS has taken the initiative in conducting researches and made reference to the
lists adopted by our major food supplying countries. On this basis, the CFS is
preparing the proposed list of "exempted substances" in accordance with the
above criteria.
(e) At present, in respect of local vegetable farms, since the introduction of
the Local Vegetable Farms Registration Scheme in 2006, the Agriculture,
Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has been educating local farmers on
the proper and safe use of pesticides and providing them with guidance and
technical assistance with a view to reducing the use of pesticides under this
scheme. The AFCD also actively encourages farmers to participate in the
Accredited Farm Scheme and practise organic farming with a view to helping them
produce, in a sustainable manner, vegetables and fruits which are safe and
healthy for consumption.
Regarding the registered vegetable farms in the Mainland, the existing
requirement is that farms and production and processing establishments which
supply vegetables to Hong Kong must be registered with the inspection and
quarantine authorities in the Mainland. In accordance with the Administrative
Measures on Inspection, Quarantine and Supervision for Vegetables Supplied to
Hong Kong and Macao, clear requirements on the registration conditions for
vegetable farms have been laid down by the Mainland authorities and food safety
management measures, including management and control of the use of pesticides
and provision of testing capability of pesticide residues, must be implemented
by dedicated departments or personnel. Processing establishments must be
equipped with instruments for testing pesticide residues, and must conduct
testing on incoming raw materials. The Mainland has also strengthened
supervision and control at source in respect of vegetable farms and processing
establishments which supply vegetables to Hong Kong by improving the product
tracing system, introducing electronic monitoring and increasing penalties for
non-compliance.
The residue limits for pesticides in food in the proposed new legislation
mentioned in part (a) above are based on the application of Good Agricultural
Practice with a view to reducing the use of pesticides. In applying pesticides
approved by the relevant government authorities for effective pest control at
any stage in the production, storage, transportation, distribution and
processing of food and animal feed, efforts should be made to ensure that the
level of pesticide residues is minimised. If the proposed legislation is passed
and comes into effect, all local farms and those registered in the Mainland
which supply vegetables to Hong Kong are required to comply with the prescribed
standards of pesticide residues.
Ends/Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:09
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