China to bulldoze illegal pesticides

According to the Vice Minister of Agriculture, Gao
Hongbin, ten people have been arrested and nearly a hundred of offending
companies have closed since August.

Gao said the ministry was “targeting
100% surveillance of large and medium-sized cities” in the search for illegal
pesticides and feed additives, as China’s food chain is contaminated at many
levels by the overuse of pesticides and additives. 

The problem
aroused international concern this year, even though it has been common for many
years. The global concern came when complaints were lodged about tainted Chinese
exports, such as farmed fish in which U.S. and when European authorities found
high doses of a carcinogenic antibiotic. 

Gao reported that
authorities were also “targeting the illegal production, sale and application of
five types of pesticides.”  He said the ministry was attaching great
importance to agricultural inspections. 

There will also be random
checks for pesticide residue in agriculture products. 

Gao added
that since the inspection programme was launched last month, ten people have
been arrested and 95 companies without appropriate licenses have been shut down
while the business licenses of another six companies were revoked.