Hebei provincial government has recently demanded that there will be a market access system for vegetables in its 11 subordinate cities by the end of this year, CEN learned this from the "vegetable basket" conference in Hebei, part of a national conference.

By the end of 2003, there will be a market access system for pollution-free vegetable, fruit, animal products and aquatic products at economically developed county-level cities. Farm production will be made in accordance with public hazard free standards and there will be a market access system in two third of the counties by the end of 2004. Some of the farm produce will be up to the standards of organic foodstuffs and all county-level cities will practice a market access system by the end of 2005.

In the last few years, the province has made headway in its "vegetable basket" project and realized a historic turning point from shortage of supply to basic balance in demand and supply. The production has been rising at a fast pace. However, the structure of farm produce is not yet rational and quality is not high with some local products seriously polluted.

The provincial government has decided to standardize the vegetable production, business, marketing and social service and ensure that the vegetables the consumers consume are public hazard free. It has also set up production bases for export-oriented vegetables.

To attain the target, the provincial government will first of all try to improve the competitiveness of the garden culture and develop public hazard free products. The quality will be improved and the foodstuffs will be more safe. The province will be a major quality farm produce producer. It will exercise quality control in the whole process of vegetable production in the field, stimulate technical advancement and industrialize the whole farming efforts and services.

(www.cenews.com.cn August 5, 2002)