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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Health & Science

Taiwan to subsidize legal fees for victims of carcinogenic oil case

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • - Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare will use its "Food Safety Fund" to subsidize legal fees for victims of a carcinogenic oil case.
  • The decision comes after the discovery of excessive levels of benzopyrene in oil products from Chung Lien Oil.
  • Legislators are advocating for full subsidies to ensure consumers can pursue legal recourse.

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced it will utilize the "Food Safety Fund" to cover legal and litigation costs for consumers affected by the recent carcinogenic oil scandal involving Chung Lien Oil. The ministry's Deputy Minister, Lin Ching-yi, confirmed that the Consumer Protection Department will initiate group litigation, with the fund's management and supervision group reviewing the applications.

The move follows concerns raised by Democratic Progressive Party legislator Fan Yun regarding government support for consumers seeking legal action. The scandal involves Chung Lien Oil products found to contain excessive levels of benzopyrene, a known carcinogen. Fan Yun urged the government to provide full subsidies for legal expenses, emphasizing the importance of consumers being able to assert their rights.

The Consumer Protection Department, along with consumer protection groups, will file relevant lawsuits in accordance with the "Consumer Protection Act," "Food Safety and Health Administration Act," and other regulations. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will then use the 'Food Safety Fund' to subsidize lawyers' fees and related litigation costs.

— Lin Ching-yiTaiwan's Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare explaining the ministry's plan to subsidize legal fees for victims of the carcinogenic oil case.

During a legislative session, Lin Ching-yi explained that the MOHW would indeed provide financial assistance for lawyers' fees and related litigation costs through the Food Safety Fund. This fund has previously been used to support consumers in similar cases, such as the Bao Lin restaurant food poisoning incident.

The legislative committee heard reports from the Ministry of Justice, MOHW, the Judicial Yuan, the Executive Yuan's Consumer Protection Department, and the Food and Drug Administration regarding the investigation, consumer rights, and food safety oversight related to the Chung Lien Oil incident. The discussions highlighted the government's commitment to addressing the issue and ensuring consumer protection in food safety matters.

The government fighting for consumers' rights is very important. We hope for public litigation and full subsidies as much as possible.

— Fan YunLegislator Fan Yun emphasizing the need for comprehensive government support for affected consumers.
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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