President Tsai unveils new food safety measures

2016/09/01

President Tsai Ing-wen said Aug. 30 the government will establish an independent food safety evaluation committee as part of new measures to protect public health and strengthen Taiwan’s reputation as a culinary destination.

“Food safety is a priority for the administration,” Tsai said at the opening of the Taiwan Food Safety Summit in Taipei City. “As the issue involves interministerial coordination, the government will set up an independent committee to assess potential risks and improve precautionary management procedures.”

The president said a dedicated authority will also be created to regulate the use of chemical substances in food production, while ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers are working on amendments to the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation to strengthen existing regulations.

“In addition, the government will increase its food safety budget by 50 percent next year, with a focus on building production management systems and enhancing food safety inspection capabilities,” she added.

Tsai said the new measures are intended to ensure food producers comply with regulations and improve their own inspection capabilities; protect consumers from toxic chemicals; and predict and prevent the emergence of safety hazards.

Food safety was a key plank of Tsai’s campaign platform. The president said progress has already been made in this area since she assumed office in May, citing as an example the recent policy directive that requires school lunch programs to use food products and produce that meet specific safety standards.

Tsai also pointed to the importance of redefining the relationship between consumers and food, noting there is a global trend toward re-establishing healthy and trustworthy production systems. She called on all segments of society to work together on promoting local food culture while embracing the principles of environmental conservation and sustainability.

Co-organized by National Taiwan University’s College of Public Health, the three-day summit has drawn more than 400 industry representatives, officials and scholars from home and abroad for discussions on policymaking and business practices.

Invited speakers include Kang Jaw-jou, director-general of Taiwan’s Office of Food Safety, Bernhard Url, executive director of the European Food Safety Authority, and Toshiro Kawashima, director-general of Japan’s Food Safety Commission Secretariat.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=247570&ctNode=2194&mp=9)