The production of five highly poisonous pesticides will be banned to ensure the safety of agricultural products, a senior official said yesterday.
Gao Hongbin, vice-minister of agriculture, made the announcement at a media briefing where he reported the progress of the country's campaign on food safety and product quality.
Since the beginning of this year, China has banned the use of the five pesticides, including methamidophos, in agricultural production, and the ministry plans to forbid all factories from producing such pesticides, Gao said.
Currently, 16 factories are producing the pesticides, mostly for export, he told the news conference organized by the State Council Information Office.
The vice-minister admitted that if production continued, even only for export, the pesticides might be used domestically.
Ministry figures show the export volume for the five banned pesticides is about $20 million a year. Last year, about 28,000 tons were shipped to 60 developing countries including Brazil, India and Argentina.
Gao said the ministry is also considering drafting a regulation on the labeling of pesticides to make it clearer and easier to read.
The issue of Chinese product quality came into the spotlight after a spate of safety scares around the globe earlier this year. In response, the State Council launched a four-month campaign in late August to improve quality.
The ministry reported it had revoked the licenses of seven enterprises for producing highly poisonous pesticides and confiscated 479 tons of illegal pesticides during the campaign.
The latest random check of 100 wholesale markets across the country showed that 94 percent of vegetables, 99 percent of animal products and 95 percent of aquatic products tested meet drug residue standards, all higher than before the campaign.
Gao said the measures are not temporary. "The campaign will finish at the year-end, but these policies won't," he said.
Questions:
1. What did the vice-minister of Agriculture announce yesterday?
2. Why is the government doing this?
3. Last year how many tons of the five pesticides were shipped?
4. What is the ministry also considering drafting legislation on?
Answers:
1. The government is banning the production of five highly poisonous pesticides.
2. To prevent the highly poisonous pesticides from being used domestically.
3. About 28,000 tons.
4. Making the labeling of pesticides clearer and easier to read.
（英语点津 Linda 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
