The Executive Yuan said today that it will organize three public hearings in response to growing concerns over government plans to lift a ban on Japanese food imports from prefectures neighboring Fukushima, site of the 2011 nuclear power plant disaster. The public policy discussions at the hearing will foster an exchange of viewpoints and avoid the oversimplification of complex issues that leads to polarization.
The Executive Yuan thanked several civic groups for organizing food safety risk survey trips to Japan and helping safeguard Taiwan's food safety, saying that expressions of opinion and civic participation are core values of democracy and the policymaking process.
The government will impose tough safety regulations on Japanese food imports while working with the public to address this issue. The Executive Yuan reiterated that food products from Fukushima and any radiation-contaminated foods will be strictly banned from entering Taiwan, thus eliminating the issue of radiation-tainted foods. Unaffected food products from prefectures outside of Fukushima, however, should still only be imported after an analysis of international practices and careful consideration of how regulations can minimize risks. Dialogues with the public should also be conducted rationally and backed by scientific evidence.
The government is currently preparing to hold three public hearings and hopes the events will serve as a mechanism for civic participation and risk communication. A preparatory meeting with a third-party host, also attended by civic group representatives, was already held to allow the public to determine the agendas for three public hearings (see preparatory meeting details on www.fda.gov.tw/tc/siteList.aspx?sid=9195, in Chinese.)
Government agencies will also be on hand at the hearings to respond directly to the public's questions, and afterward will review and adjust policies according to the public's feedback and consensus. The government will address these food safety issues by conducting open and transparent discussions with the public, so citizens from all sectors, especially those with diverging viewpoints, are welcome to attend the public hearings on December 25, January 2 and January 8. The Executive Yuan hopes that the hearings will facilitate professional dialogue where citizens can discuss and play an important part in policymaking.