Taiwan rolls out stricter standards for food safety

The Taiwanese Government is to tighten up its monitoring procedures to tackle food industry violators.

The measures are a response to a series of food safety incidents including the adulteration of cooking oil with recycled waste oil and animal feed oil.

Food inspectors aim to examine 258 edible oil production units between today and the end of this year. An additional 70 inspectors have been drawn from local governments to assist with the operation.

Taiwan Premier Jiang Yi-huah has said that his government is proposing an increase in jail terms and fines for food violators.

Yi-huah was quoted by Taiwan Today as saying: "Separate systems regulating local and imported edible, animal feed and industrial oils are now in place.

"We will leave no stone unturned in keeping problematic products away from consumers."

"In addition, a comprehensive mechanism for managing waste oil products has been created, with the Environmental Protection Administration issuing permits to businesses for collecting used edible oil as a waste item."

A three-tier quality control system is being implemented, including self-inspection by businesses, third-party assessments and government spot check and reviews.

The first food scandal of the year came to light in September, when it was discovered that Kaohsiung-based company Chang Guann was producing substandard cooking oil by mixing edible oil with recycled oil, grease and leather cleaner.

Subsequently, two other companies, Ting Hsin International Group and Beei Hae Edible, were also found to be manufacturing tainted oil.

Following these incidents, the government has started a campaign against illegal food practices. The country’s office of food safety has implemented eight key measures to ensure food safety.

"The next phase will focus on inspecting raw materials for commonly used food ingredients," Yi-huah added.

"The government will devote maximum resources to the implementation, supervision and enforcement of the three-tier quality control system. It also invites food businesses to demand higher self-inspection standards, closer monitoring and stricter enforcement of laws."