‘Authorities monitor imported, local vegetables constantly’
SIBU: The authorities are constantly monitoring vegetables both imported and locally produced in the state to ensure they are safe for consumption, Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail assured consumers here yesterday.
“The ( state) Department of Agriculture ( DOA) monitors vegetables at farm level. The Ministry of Health (MOH) through Health Department monitors the local market,” he said.
When asked if the state imports red chillies from Vietnam, the Bukit Kota assemblyman added: “Sarawak imports fresh chilli from Vietnam, China, Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah but the public need not be unduly alarmed as steps have been taken to ensure they are safe for consumption.”
Meanwhile, it was reported on Sunday that the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry ( MOA) was tightening control on the import of chillies that do not meet the standards on quality, safety and other regulations relating to pesticide residues.
Its minister, Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, said the government had suspended the import permit (IP) for Vietnamese red chillies found to contain pesticide residues above the permissible level since Sept 14 but the commodity was still found in the local market.
Since then, the ministry, through Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection services ( MAQIS) had been working with Customs Department and Health Ministry to prevent the import of chilli into the country, he added.
On Sunday, MOH confirmed that a small sample of chillies sold in local markets did not comply with the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 on pesticide residue.