The government is taking a number of proactive measures to ensure food safety in response to incidents like the adulteration of edible oils by Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co. and Full Flavor Foods Inc., including launching a new inspection and crackdown team which will begin operations November 1, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said at today's Cabinet meeting.
The new unit's first priority will be scrutinizing food products which have already received government certification, beginning with common items which have the greatest influence on public health. The group will also steadily expand its checks to other products over time.
"The food safety inspection and crackdown team will break away from past methods of investigating and prosecuting such cases by taking the initiative and going on the offensive," Jiang said. "It will begin at the sources of production, conducting major investigations there and seeking cooperation from prosecutorial agencies. As soon as illegal activity is proven, it will be strictly punished, and the public will be immediately informed about the case."
The model for this unit is the Executive Yuan's successful campaign to crack down on fake and shoddy medicine, said the premier, who added that he expects the new food safety team to display great effectiveness.
The unit's first meeting was convened yesterday by Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo, as was a gathering of the cross-ministerial food safety task force.
Meanwhile, routine inspections by local governments and key monitoring programs by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Council of Agriculture will continue unabated.
Central and local government capabilities are being integrated for the food safety campaign, and the support and collaboration of local governments will be necessary, emphasized Jiang.
The premier expects each municipal and county administration to appoint officials at the rank of secretary-general or above to create cross-departmental food safety and inspection taskforces to facilitate joint implementation of relevant measures.
"I am very happy that some local governments have already created such groups and swung into action," he said. "Everyone in central and local government alike must work together to eliminate food safety risks and protect consumers' rights and interests."