A voluntary labelling system is being drafted to certify organic food as free of farm chemicals.
Industry representatives say a system is needed to guarantee quality as customers become more aware of health and environment issues, and an increasing number turn away from genetically modified food.
Eight organic farms have formed the Hong Kong Organic Farming Association Standard and Certification Committee to draft the standard, which will be finalised around the end of the year.
'Organic food is increasingly popular these days because of the public's resistance to genetically modified food,' association chairman Angus Lam Chi-kwong said. 'However, many food products with the organic label sold in stores actually do not qualify for the claim.'
Use of the certification system will involve setting guidelines for producing organic food. Goods have to be grown without artificial fertilisers or feeds and without pesticides and herbicides. Seeds for growing organic food must not be genetically modified.
The eight member farms of the association include the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Organic Farm, Produce Green Foundation and Evergreen Organic Vegetable Garden. The initiative follows a plan by ParknShop and Wellcome to set up a labelling system for genetically modified food.
