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Pesticide claims irritate farmers

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wei Ming-ku, second right, and Chinese Nationalist Party Legislator Chu Fong-chi, center, eat organic produce with farmers at a press conference in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

Farmers of organic produce yesterday criticized the Consumers' Foundation for alleging the public had been placed in jeopardy because of pesticide residue found on their produce.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Legislative Yuan, the farmers demanded a government investigation, saying that the allegation of pesticide residue on three samples of organic vegetables had adversely affected the sale of more than 100,000 tonnes of their organic produce.

To restore public confidence in organic produce, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wei Ming-ku (魏明谷) ate samples of organic vegetables with the farmers.

Purchasing organic produce from local markets is often regarded as the best way of avoiding pesticides. Last week, however, the Consumers' Foundation released an analysis of 17 samples of vegetables purchased in late February from local markets. Of these, only eight had been certified by the government.

But against the foundation's expectations, bacteria-killing dithiocarbamates were also found on three of the certified samples. The analysis was conducted by specialists affiliated with the foundation.

The legislators said, however, that the way in which the analysis was released raised suspicions.

"We don't understand why the foundation released the results of the analysis so late. Because of this, it has become impossible to locate the vegetables contaminated by pesticides for further analysis," Wei said.

Chu said the foundation's results should have been announced only after carrying out comprehensive testing at other research labs.

"This hasty announcement could hurt organic agriculture," Chu said.

Lai Ching-liang (賴清涼), who heads the Taiwan Organic Production Association, which issues certificates of accreditation to qualified organic farmers, said the government should fight on behalf of the farmers affected by the development.

Council of Agriculture officials yesterday said the council carried out annual examinations of certified organic produce.

The total area of land used to grow organic produce is 1,092 hectares.

According to Li Gwo-chen (李國欽), the head of the council's Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute, problems relating to the examination of organic produce should have been reported to the council first for a more thorough investigation.

Li said the possibility that the foundation had committed errors in its analysis could not be ruled out.

"Different analysis methods might draw different results," Li said, agreeing that further analysis was necessary.

Li also said that the chemicals claimed to have been found on the samples by the foundation were harmless and could be readily washed off.
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