Press Releases
Transcript of media session by SHWF on malachite green
Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session by the
Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, at the Legislative Council
today (August 26):
Reporter: I am Betsy from RTHK. You've just announced that the freshwater fish
from the Mainland is safe for consumption, right? Is that enough to restore the
confidence? �KThat is my first question, I'll have a follow-up later.
Dr Chow: Based on the analysis of some 60 samples that were received by our
laboratory, it is estimated that the so-called danger level of consumption is
actually very high. If anybody who consumes more than 290 kg of freshwater fish
each day for prolonged consumption, then there might be some risk of health. It
also means that it is quite impossible with the current figures. It doesn't mean
that we should not be banning this particular substance. This substance still
has potential danger if it is being used widely and also in a very high dosage,
particularly in some areas. So it is important that we still need to focus on
how to implement our legislation to ensure that the fish is free from malachite
green in Hong Kong. While at the same time, we know that some of the trade might
be affected recently, we want to ensure that our prosecution will be very
carefully analysed before any prosecution action is taken.
Reporter: About the health certification, how much of involvement will Hong Kong
authorities have in these certificates to ensure that...?
Dr Chow: We had agreement with the Mainland that we will be involved in the
certification and accreditation of the fish farms that are given permits to
export to Hong Kong. In the whole process, we will be able to monitor the
criteria that were set on the fish farms. We will be able to participate in the
certification, and we will be able to participate in the testing of the fish and
the various farming elements within the fish farms. At the same time, the
Mainland authorities also allow us to inspect those farms either regularly or as
a spot check. So, in case we suspect anything should happen, we could always
send our experts to those fish farms to seek clarification and do testing.
Reporter: One other question, you mentioned the legislation. If you think the
fresh water fish from the Mainland is safe for consumption, why is it that you
are fast tracking the legislation? Why are you banning the use of malachite
green?
Dr Chow: What I am saying is with all the measures that we have taken in the
last week, we have now ensured that the freshwater fish that come from the
Mainland are well-certified and tested before they are imported to Hong Kong.
Those new imports are very safe as far as we are concerned although we might be
expecting smaller volume of supplies in the coming days. It is much more
important to be safe than to be sorry.
Reporter: (on supply)
Dr Chow: I think the priority is to ensure that we have a safe supply of
freshwater fish to Hong Kong. I hope this shortage of supply is only temporary,
particularly, I think the Mainland is working very hard to ensure they can
manage all the testing and certification in a short period of time. As far as I
know, there are more than 100 tonnes of freshwater fish in Shenzhen waiting to
be ordered in those fish farms.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Friday, August 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 20:19