Controversy erupts in Zhonglian toxic oil probe; watchdog urges new probe

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of the Zhonglian cooking oil scandal, following allegations of potential conflicts of interest involving its expert advisors. The controversy centers on claims that a researcher from the Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), Zhu Yanhua, dined with Zhonglian's general manager Yu Lingchong and factory director Chen Mingrong shortly before a critical expert meeting on July 4.

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The incident on July 4, officials can still say they didn't know beforehand that "FIRDI researcher Zhu Yanhua dined with Zhonglian general manager Yu Lingchong and factory director Chen Mingrong and took Chen's car north (to attend the expert meeting)."

Media reports further alleged that Zhu accepted a ride from Chen to the meeting, raising questions about the impartiality of the investigation. Taiwan's Economic Democracy Union think tank convener Lai Chung-chiang has called for the Executive Yuan to launch an independent reinvestigation into the Zhonglian case. He emphasized that while scientific evidence is crucial for complex food safety issues, transparency in expert conflicts of interest and recusal are vital for democratic governance.

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Players cannot be referees, therefore, the expert consultants for the players and the expert consultants for the referees should not be the same group of people.

Lai pointed out that while officials might claim ignorance of the pre-meeting interactions, FIRDI had already been invited by Zhonglian on July 2 to inspect its production processes, quality, and sourcing. This prior engagement, Lai argued, makes FIRDI's subsequent appointment by the FDA to lead an "independent investigation" problematic, creating a situation where the same institute was effectively commissioned by both the regulator and the company under investigation.

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It is indeed necessary to let objective scientific evidence serve as the basis for rational discussion. However, if the expert investigation process by FIRDI is so flawed and controversial, how can the public be convinced?

Citing administrative law principles that require public officials to recuse themselves if they have previously acted as witnesses or experts in a case, Lai questioned the validity of FIRDI's investigation report, released on July 27. He stressed that the principle of "players cannot be referees" applies, and that the experts involved in verifying the evidence should not also be consulting for the company. Lai urged Premier Cho Jung-tai to act decisively, form a new investigation team under the Executive Yuan, and use this opportunity to establish clear principles for conflict of interest disclosure and avoidance in administrative investigations and expert consultations.

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Premier Cho Jung-tai should act decisively and have the Executive Yuan form a new investigation team for the Zhonglian oil case; and use this opportunity to establish principles for conflict of interest disclosure and avoidance in administrative investigations and expert meetings.