Guangzhou, capital city of South China’s Guangdong Province, is bringing in a new system of health controls for farmers’ markets, the China Daily newspaper reported today (Wednesday).
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“By the end of this year, over 70% 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.
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By GlobalData“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 30m yuan (US$3.6m) to build a quality inspection centre for agricultural food products.
In 2005, the city plans to invest another 3m yuan 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.
