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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Health & Science

Taishan Chairman apologizes; FDA respects industry statements

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that 19 batches of oil products and their downstream items can be relisted after testing.
  • This decision faced backlash from local governments concerned about safety before the cause of the issue is fully clarified.
  • The FDA stated it respects local governments' final decisions regarding relisting the products.

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that 19 batches of oil products and their related downstream items, produced by Zhonglian Oil, are now permitted to be relisted. This decision follows the completion of tests on retained samples of crude oil and final products.

Oil containing benzo[a]pyrene and the malicious addition of illegal inedible substances are different concepts. Soybean ingredients rich in oil may slightly increase [benzo[a]pyrene] during the process, and it can be removed through control and treatment.

— Wang Der-yuanExplaining the potential causes of contamination in the oil products.

The FDA's move has sparked protests from local governments, including Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. These authorities argue that the products should not be allowed back on the market until the root cause of the contamination issue is definitively identified. The FDA, however, maintains that its decision is based on scientific evidence, risk assessment, and legal compliance, having individually verified that the 19 batches pose no issues from crude oil to final product.

The FDA has inspected and confirmed one by one that the 19 batches of oil products and their related products have no problems from crude oil to the final product before agreeing to their relisting.

— Wang Der-yuanJustifying the FDA's decision to allow the products back on the market.

FDA Deputy Director-General Wang Der-yuan explained that the presence of benzo[a]pyrene in oils can occur naturally during the processing of fatty soybean ingredients and can be mitigated through proper control. He differentiated this from the malicious addition of non-edible substances. An investigation is underway, with a report expected by July 27, to clarify the issue, which is suspected to stem from inadequate control at various stages from raw materials to processing.

We ask all local health bureaus to handle it according to consistent standards... but ultimately respect the local practices regarding relisting.

— Wang Der-yuanAddressing the differing opinions between the FDA and local governments.

While the FDA has requested local health bureaus to apply consistent standards for relisting, it also stated it respects their final decisions. Regarding some businesses choosing not to relist their products, Wang said the FDA respects their commitment to higher product standards. He also acknowledged and respected the apology made by Taishan Chairman Liu Wei-long to the FDA, stating the agency respects all industry statements.

We respect the industry's statements.

— Wang Der-yuanResponding to the apology from Taishan Chairman Liu Wei-long.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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