Lu Shiow-yen renews call for food safety law revision to clarify central-local duties

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has renewed calls for amendments to Taiwan's food safety law, aiming to clearly delineate responsibilities between central and local authorities. The push comes in the wake of a scandal involving cooking oil found to contain excessive levels of a carcinogen.

Lu emphasized Taichung's commitment to a strict "full disclosure, full recall" policy. She stated that food safety requires systemic guarantees and proposed that the central government revise the law to specify the duties of national and local governments, inspection frequencies, and industry self-testing standards. The Taichung City Government's Department of Health and Legal Affairs is actively drafting proposed amendments based on local practical experience.

This initiative follows a food safety consensus meeting initiated by Taichung, which included 16 other cities and counties across Taiwan. The meeting produced a "10-point consensus" that has been formally submitted to the Executive Yuan and all legislators, urging legislative reform to establish a more robust national food safety defense network.

“

Food safety requires systemic guarantees. We suggest the central government revise food safety laws to stipulate central and local responsibilities, inspection frequencies, and industry self-testing regulations.