Taiwan Opposition Demands Premier Resign Over Relaxed Apple Pesticide Rules

Opposition lawmakers in Taiwan have vehemently protested the government's recent decision to significantly increase the permissible residue limits for the insecticide Fenpyroximate in imported apples. The move, which raises the limit from 0.5 parts per million (ppm) to 3.0 ppm – a sixfold increase – has sparked outrage among critics who fear for public health and food safety.

Several Kuomintang (KMT) city councilor candidates, including Yang Dah-hung, Wu Tsung-hsueh, and Chen Ching-sung, confronted Premier Cho Jung-tai outside an event in Taichung. They held placards, demanding Cho's resignation and President Lai Ching-te's apology. The protesters decried the central government's alleged laxity on food safety, accusing it of "poisoning the next generation."

Wu Tsung-hsueh, a father of eight children attending kindergarten and elementary school, expressed his deep concern. He highlighted that apples are a common fruit for Taiwanese children and frequently appear in school lunches. Wu criticized the government for hastily relaxing pesticide residue standards without public consultation or risk assessment, calling it a "step backward for food safety."

“

This is a step backward for food safety, it is simply leading the charge in causing chaos.

The lawmakers are demanding that the Ministry of Health and Welfare immediately review the new regulation and revert to the previous 0.5 ppm standard. They also insist on a public disclosure of the complete risk assessment that led to the 3.0 ppm standard, questioning why it wasn't closer to the proposed safe value of 1.5 ppm. Chen Ching-sung echoed the condemnation, stating that amidst frequent food safety scandals, the government should be strengthening oversight, not loosening pesticide standards.

The protesters warned that if the administration continues to ignore public outcry and allow "poisoned apples" into schools and markets, grassroots anger will escalate into widespread protests. They vowed to fight to protect the health of the next generation.

“

If the Executive Yuan continues to turn a deaf ear and insists on allowing poisoned apples into schools and markets, grassroots grievances will erupt everywhere, and protests will escalate.