This month, the Executive Yuan will launch an action plan for the inspections of tea leaves and various types of scented tea as well as the second-phase action plan for the inspection of salt.
Aside from cracking down on illicit operators, the government will integrate the resources of central and local governments to thoroughly implement management, assistance and guidance measures to ensure full protection of consumers.
The Executive Yuan stated that this wave of inspections on tea leaves and scented teas will target market chains for custom-made beverages as well as the domestic tea producers and importers that supply these chains with raw materials.
As the domestic edible salt market chiefly relies on import, the second-phase inspection plan will aim to prevent operators from passing off imported non-edible salt as edible salt. Inspectors will lock in on major salt users and importers, with particular scrutiny given to importers with bad customs-declaration records or that have made large monetary transactions with food manufacturers.
Any illegalities found will be made known; products that fail inspection will be publicized; and lawbreakers will be fined or otherwise penalized accordingly, the Executive Yuan reiterated. By eradicating "black-hearted" food operators, the government hopes to engender a healthy food-safety environment, working hand in hand with the citizenry and companies to achieve that end.
These statements were made today at the 21st meeting of the Food Safety Inspection and Crackdown Task Force, which the Executive Yuan established under the Board of Food and Medicinal Safety in order to reinforce cross-ministerial food-safety management.
The task force targets and enhances inspection of illegal food products that endanger public health, with priority being placed on daily necessities that have a particularly large impact. Intelligence is collected for pre-warnings, and statistical data are analyzed to spot irregularities. Any food products not conforming to national standards or relevant inspection and examination criteria will be successively targeted for inspections.