Authorities in China destroyed 40 tonnes of oranges from Taiwan found to be tainted with the poisonous pesticide acephatemet (methamidophos), reported China View.
State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Yang Yi said on Wednesday the oranges had pesticide residues on their skins, and were part of a 1,230 tonne shipment to China in December and January.
The fruit were destroyed under agreement between Taiwanese sellers and Chinese buyers after the contamination was discovered, and none of the fruit made it onto the market.
The oranges were destined for Fujian Chaoda Modern Agricultural Group in eastern Fujian Province, who had signed a contract with a Taiwanese agricultural group in December for 1,200 tonnes of the fruit.
Mr Yang said the export deal was part of an effort to spur on Taiwan’s fruit farmers, whose sales have been hard hit by the global financial crisis.
