The Centre for Food Safety has assured that a stringent monitoring system oversees vegetables and fruit imported from the Mainland.

In response to an environmental concern group's report on pesticides found in vegetables and fruit sold on the Mainland, the centre said vegetables sold on the Mainland are different from those destined for exports to Hong Kong.

Vegetables exported to Hong Kong must come from registered farms and collection stations and be approved by the Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau. Documents on the farms and pesticides used are inspected by Government staff at Man Kam To Food Control Office on arrival.

The centre also collects samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels for the testing. Of the 20,000 vegetable samples tested last year, only 10 were found with unsatisfactory amounts of pesticide residue.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has collected 480 fruit samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels in the past three years. Among them, only one papaya sample collected in 2003 was found unsatisfactory with trace amounts of pesticide residue.

Concerning reports in mid-April on pesticide residues found in vegetables, inspection has been stepped up. Of the 39 follow-up samples taken, the results were all satisfactory. Mainland authorities have agreed to strengthen their monitoring measures.