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Test results of six eel/eel product samples collected earlier for detection of pesticide endosulfan were all found to be satisfactory, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said today (August 30).
"No endosulfan was detected in four of the samples, including two live eels and two eel products, while only trace amount of the pesticide was found in the remaining two live eel samples, at a level of about 0.02 ppm.
"The scarce amount of the pesticide found is not of food safety concern as it is well below Codex's maximum residue limits set for endosulfan in meat and vegetables, which range from 0.1 ppm to 2 ppm.
"Endosulfan is a registered pesticide. It is normally not used in fish as some fish species are very sensitive to the toxic effect of this pesticide. And there is also no maximum residue limits set for endosulfan in fish by Codex.
"The minute quantity found in some eel samples is probably due to environmental contamination," a CFS spokesman said.
The spokesman reiterated that based on the very low level of endosulfan found in the food samples, normal consumption of live eels or eel products should not pose any adverse health effects.
He said the samples were collected for assessing the situation after endosulfan was detected in live eels in Japan.
"The CFS will monitor the situation closely and take follow-up actions where necessary," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:51
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