At the Executive Yuan meeting today, Premier Jiang Yi-huah called for stiffer punishment on unscrupulous manufacturers who supplied maleic anhydride-modified starch to downstream food makers. He expressed extreme disappointment at the suppliers for their gross indifference to public health and the reputation of Taiwanese manufacturers, even after the occurrence of the plasticizer contamination scare two years ago.
Premier Jiang said maintaining food safety and protecting citizens' health is a top priority for the government. The Department of Health (DOH) has activated a special program this week to enforce food inspections across the board, remove and destroy contaminated products, and ensure that illegal products are no longer manufactured. And based on agreed actions from two food safety meetings convened yesterday by Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo, the DOH will work with other agencies to put the matter to a swift end, punish violators, and ensure safety up and down the food supply chain.
After the plasticizer scare in 2011, the government made comprehensive changes to the Act Governing Food Sanitation to place more responsibility on food product manufacturers. Steps were also taken to promote a mandatory food registration system, raise sanitation standards for food additive manufacturers, and establish a food traceability system. The Executive Yuan has proposed another amendment that would impose harsher penalties on violators. Premier Jiang thanked the Legislative Yuan for holding intensive review meetings yesterday and today, and he instructed the DOH to actively communicate with legislators to push for ratification of the amendment within the current session.