MOHW releases food safety policy white paper

2016/01/08

A 2016-2020 white paper aimed at mapping out a robust food safety inspection system and strengthening risk management measures in Taiwan was released Jan. 6 by the ROC Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Proposed by the MOHW’s Food and Drug Administration, the five-year undertaking comprises 19 strategies and 51 plans. It is expected to lay a solid foundation for rebuilding consumer confidence in the quality of food and the production processes of the nation’s manufacturers.

FDA Director-General Chiang Yu-mei said that in light of recent food scandals, government agencies need to make timely regulatory adjustments to ensure the public’s health and welfare are fully protected.

“Through a monitoring system and mandatory registration for food manufacturers, we can now track the flows of high-risk ingredients and take instant action to minimize the impact of any potential food crisis.”

According to Chiang, top priority will be given to strengthening FDA collaboration with such frontline agencies as the Council of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Administration.

“By sharing information via a big data system documenting the supply chains of agricultural, chemical and food products, as well as a detailed list of the nation’s producers, authorities can keep abreast of any threats,” she said.

The government is also set to formulate an inspection mechanism for foodborne infectious diseases and import controls for feed oils, pesticides and veterinary medicines. In addition, efforts are underway to promote a regime for manufacturing facilities of self-checking, licensing and food safety certification.

Regarding the development of testing technology, Chiang said greater emphasis will be placed on supplying the latest precision equipment for national laboratories, while encouraging information exchanges with leading facilities in the EU, Japan and the U.S. The upgrading of private labs is another initiative in the pipeline.

“Additional steps we are looking to take include digitalizing related government services, encouraging public involvement in policymaking and providing open access to data,” Chiang said. “No stone will be left unturned in safeguarding Taiwan’s food security.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241011&ctNode=2194&mp=9)