An investigation into Taiwan’s tap water uncovers a story that goes far beyond lab results. While municipal systems, especially in Taipei, meet world-class standards, trust erodes along the way through aging pipes, rooftop tanks, uneven governance, and decades of inherited caution.
Two experts note how improved industry-regulator communications helped in the U.S. Food safety issues have continued to plague Taiwan, despite comprehensive efforts by the regulatory agencies. At the same time, the food industry complains that many of the regulations and practices put into place to ensure that Taiwan’s food is safe and free of both…
The series of food-related scandals in Taiwan in recent years has aroused public concern regarding the safety and reliability of the food supply. In effort to provide a communication platform to enhance understanding of food safety laws and regulations, AmCham Taipei’s Retail Committee conducted a Chinese-language Food Safety Forum at The Sherwood Taipei on October 17. The event was sponsored by…
Taiwan Tennis Star Wins Doubles Title The tennis duo of Chan Yung-jan from Taiwan and her legendary Swiss partner Martina Hingis took another doubles title, the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, in late September. It was the eighth triumph for the pair and came soon after their victory in the U.S. Open on September 9, their…
As consumer interest in organic foods grows, major food companies are entering this market segment. Around the world, consumers are expressing greater interest in healthier diets that include more natural and organic ingredients without artificial additives and preservatives. Global sales of organic food have surged 200% over the last decade, according to research institutes, and…
On the morning of July 28, Wei Ying-chung, former chairman of Wei Chuan Foods Corp., reported to the Taipei Prosecutors Office to begin a two-year prison sentence for his involvement in the 2013 edible-oil scandal that dealt a fatal blow to his company, once one of Taiwan’s leading foodstuff manufacturers. In late April, the appellate…
The recent incident of large numbers of eggs contaminated by pesticide use is but the most recent of a series of food scandals in recent years that have shaken consumer confidence. The government has instituted a number of regulatory reforms in an effort to deal with the issue, but it remains uncertain whether the current…
Kenya Sends Taiwanese Fraudsters to China Kenya’s deportation to China of 45 Taiwanese accused of telephone fraud led to speculation that China was sending a warning message to the incoming administration of Tsai Ing-wen not to rock the boat on cross-Strait affairs. Two groups of Taiwanese nationals seized by Kenyan authorities in two separate cases…
To Save Face, Shun Ting Hsin, Says NTU Ting Hsin Industrial Oil and Fat Co. was acquitted by the Changhua County District Court in November of all charges stemming from a food safety scandal last year that accused the company of producing oils for food processing from tainted materials. The court rejected charges that Ting…
Should dishwashing detergent be governed by the food safety law? Should marketing surveys for cosmetics require approval by an independent review board? Through the annual Taiwan White Paper and other channels, AmCham Taipei has sought to call attention to laws and regulations that, while well-intended, have the inadvertent consequence of impairing Taiwan’s economic competitiveness and…
