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The Government Would Have To Beef Up Its Surveillance On Local And Imported Fruits And Vegetables Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the local and Hong Kong media reports about preservatives on fruits from Thailand. 26 July 2000. | |||||||
| Malaysia imports over RM10 billion worth of foods annually. Fruits from Thailand such as longan, durian and laichee are popular. We suspect that they contain pesticides and preservatives. Recently, local and Hong Kong media reports on harmful level of preservatives such as sulphur dioxide are causing concern. We need effective surveillance. For years, we have spoken on pesticides and preservatives in local and imported foods. The Health and Agriculture Ministries have always maintained that their monitoring is good. Their parliamentary answers are often vague. On 24 July 2000, Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said that 13 or 8.5% out of 153 Thai longan samples showed excessive preservatives. He advised consumers against biting longan skin for fear of harmful chemical effects. On the same day, Kuala Lumpur Fruit Wholesalers' Association urged consumers to have no fear about taking Thai durian, laichee and longan. Contrary | |
to Hong Kong media reports, these imported fruits did not contain harmful preservatives. There is no doubt that pesticides and preservatives have been used to produce more fruits and vegetables commercially. Misuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has bad effects on humans and environment. Malayisa imports about RM400 million worth of pesticides and nearly RM1 billion worth of fertilisers yearly. We do not know how much pesticides has been smuggled into the country. The methods of applying these chemicals such as into the stems or roots of vegetable and fruit plants and trees make us wonder. Organic farming with biological pesticides and biocontrol measures has yet to play a part in commercial vegetables and fruits. Meanwhile, the Government would have to improve its surveillance on imported and local fruits and vegetables including its methods of sampling and analysis. At the same time, consumers must be vigilant. Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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