With consumers facing a dizzying array of more than 60 different food certification and authentication marks issued by central and local governments, and even private organizations, it is up to the government to consolidate these systems and ensure all the standards are met so that people can consume the products safely, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today after listening to a briefing on certification labels.
Jiang requested all ministries to conduct a structural and systemic review of the marks to rebuild their credibility. Marks with similar purposes and authenticating processes should be merged, while different marks should have their management procedures linked in order to improve efficiency and simplify matters for consumers.
At today's meeting, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and Council of Agriculture (COA) gathered to discuss various quality control systems under their management, such as good manufacturing practice (GMP), good hygiene practice (GHP), hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) and certified agricultural standards (CAS).
Among the different types of marks collected by the MOHW, 12 were issued by central government ministries, 26 by local agencies, and 25 by private groups. There may be many more labels from local agencies or private groups that the MOHW had not yet come across, Jiang noted.
Premier Jiang said some of these marks have been in place for years and had established a certain degree of trustworthiness. Rather than being abolished, they should be modified, gradually consolidated and strengthened. Therefore, the central government should study ways to ensure that foods products meet the standards required by those marks, and help the public understand the meanings of different marks and authentication labels.
During a previous interpellation session at the Legislative Yuan, Premier Jiang made a pledge to reform the systems. He later instructed Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo to lead the MOEA, MOHW, and COA in conducting an inter-ministerial review. Premier Jiang acknowledged the team's effort and encouraged them to continue sorting out the information as the job of integration cannot be completed in one step.
Jiang said agencies reviewing and consolidation the marks should aim to make the systems more efficient and convenient. He also instructed ministers without profolio Chang San-cheng and Tsai Yu-ling to have the food security inspection and crackdown team assist in the consolidation process and help the MOHW, MOEA, and COA realize the three layers of food quality control (that is, manufacturers controlling product quality, independent organizations testing food safety, and government agencies inspecting food products randomly).