To proactively address the issue of industrial chemical substances being used in food production or processing, the Chemicals Administration of the Ministry of Environment (hereinafter referred to as CHA) has included 57 chemical substances with food safety risks, which were associated with food safety incidents within the country and neighboring countries, on the priority management list based on the inter-ministerial inventory conducted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2013. In 2017, CHA commenced to promote the guidance visits and inspections on 3,000 chemical raw material retailers each year, and has established partnership with business entities to enhance the promotion and implementation of the “Four Must-Have Management Rules” for chemical raw materials: First, a business entity must have a separate storage (chemical raw materials and food additives must be stored in separate cabinets and compartments, each appropriately labeled. The storage compartments designated for chemical raw materials should be marked with a warning "Prohibited for use in food purposes"). Second, a business entity must have definite labeling (packages containing chemical raw materials should be labeled with a warning prohibiting their use for food, drug, feed, and fertilizer purposes). Third, a business entity must have a usage notification (the sale of 57 chemical substances with food safety risks requires inquiry into the purpose of purchase and use, and customers should be informed that their use in food is prohibited). Fourth, a business entity must have records of movement (record the buyer's information, trading quantities, and storage quantities. This is intended not only to prevent food safety risks but also to demonstrate that the seller has fulfilled its due diligence). Additionally, CHA collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to execute inspection and guidance projects during folklore festivals and celebrations, including the Lunar New Year Festival, Tomb Sweeping Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Winter Solstice. The aim is to strengthen the self-management capabilities of business entities and jointly safeguard food safety from the source.
CHA also collaborates with agricultural authorities to extend the scope of the guidance initiative, covering egg farmers and the feed industry. This initiative aims to promote the "Four Tips" (Keep asking, Use it right, Drug safety, and Four must-have rules) in order to enhance risk communication and foster accurate awareness of chemical substance management, usage concepts, and risk perception among egg and livestock farmers. Simultaneously, it works to prevent potential food safety contamination at the source by addressing issues such as the misuse or overuse of environmental pesticides and general chemical substances.
- Source:
- Ministry of Environment
- Updated:
- 2024-10-18
- Hit:
- 566