Hong Kong government said Thursday that it planned to launch a voluntary registration system for local vegetable farms as vegetable with excessive pesticides found in two local supermarket chains.

Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting, Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Carrie Yau said the system will help the government trace the source of vegetable containing excessive pesticides or other harmful substances.

Yau said there is a well established system on monitoring pesticide residues in vegetable, including those imported via Man Kam To and distributed through wholesale and retail markets.

Meanwhile, the Government has asked the two major supermarket chains to improve its tracking system.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2006)