Guangzhou strives to guarantee food safety
By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-06-01 05:37

GUANGZHOU: Fresher and purer fruit and vegetables may soon be reaching tables in the capital city of South China's Guangdong Province thanks to a new system to clean up farmers' markets.

If the food is not up to scratch, then it will not be allowed to be sold.

The move is designed to prevent dodgy agricultural products from getting as far as citizens' stomachs.

"By the end of this year, over 70 per cent of farmers' markets in the city's urban districts will have to introduce the market access system," said Dong Jian, an official with the Guangzhou Municipal Industry and Commerce Bureau.

According to Dong, the system will also be implemented in markets in the city's rural areas.

The system was first introduced in July 2002 in supermarkets and wholesalers.

But the numerous farmers' markets which many residents prefer because of their low prices and fresh produce, were not included in the system.

"Now, any agricultural food products that fail to pass strict scrutiny will be denied market access to ensure food security," said Dong.

The city also plans to regularly publish agricultural food safety information for the public from July.

Inferior agricultural food products, such as vegetables with high pesticide-residue have hit the headlines frequently and caused considerable concern among consumers in recent years.

To cut agricultural food-related illness and even deaths, the city also plans to establish food inspection systems starting later this year.

All agricultural product markets must set up their own food inspection centres, Dong said.

Sources said the city has earmarked more than 30 million yuan (US$3.6 million) to build a quality inspection centre for agricultural food products.

In 2005, the city plans to invest another 3 million yuan (US$360,000) to improve quality inspection facilities in rural areas, the sources added.

More attention will also be paid to places which grow fruit and vegetables, said Dong.

He said the city will do all it can to improve standards in agricultural food firms.

Already the city has 160 agricultural sites that meet standards, according to Dong.

(China Daily 06/01/2005 page3)

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