The three flower quality rating centers set up by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kunming have started business operations.
Agricultural officials said the move aims to improve quality control for its booming flower sector.
They said that a lack of improved standardized production and quality control system has become the biggest problem for Chinese farm produce on both domestic and international markets.
China published its standards on major grades of flower products in 2000.
Cai Youming, an official in charge of the Shanghai-based flower rating center, said his center had been authorized for rating services for about 150 varieties of flowers, plants and seeds in seven categories.
Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, and Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, are the country's major flower producing centers thanks to their warm and humid climate.
(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2002)
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