Taiwan tightens crackdown on food fraud amid scandals

Taiwan's legislative authority passed new amendments to the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation after a third reading on Tuesday.

The changes raise tenfold the maximum fine of 2 billion New Taiwan dollars (651 million US dollars) against corporations involved in food safety violations.

The revised act increases administrative penalties and criminal fines against individuals and legal entities for breaches. Violators will face a maximum of seven years in prison instead of the previous five-year sentence.

Individuals can be fined between 80 million and 200 million New Taiwan dollars in lethal cases, while legal entities are subject to a maximum fine of 2 billion New Taiwan dollars.

According to the legislative authority, other amendments also include requiring listed corporations and large food enterprises to set up their own laboratories and food factories to have a license distinct from licenses for non-food production.

To show the authorities' determination in resolving food safety problems, Taiwan's administrative authority on Tuesday also announced plans to grant 1 billion New Taiwan dollars annually to reward lower levels of governments that effectively safeguard food safety.

Those that fail to perform well in the task might face a reduction of project-oriented financial aid, the administrative authority added.

Recent food scandals in Taiwan have spurred huge public anger.

On Sept. 5, Taiwanese police busted a ring selling hundreds of tonnes of recycled cooking oil made from kitchen waste and grease from leather processing plants, following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Over 1,000 businesses, including leading brands such as Wei Chuan, Vedan, Want Want and Master Kong, were identified as having used the tainted oil. The scandal has caused massive recalls of products ranging from cakes to instant noodles.

On Oct. 10, Ting Hsin International Group, known for a number of brands including Master Kong instant noodles, is in hot water after two of its subsidiaries were found to have used oil unfit for human consumption.

To tackle the crisis, a food safety office was opened by the authorities on Oct. 22 to tighten control and soothe public outrage amid a string of food scandals in recent months.