Taiwan should adopt the MDSAP multilateral approach to plant audit reports. In this year’s Taiwan White Paper, AmCham Taipei’s Medical Devices Committee called attention to problems arising from Taiwan’s documentary requirements for medical device companies to qualify to utilize the government’s simplified approach to auditing manufacturing facilities in the United States. As part of the…
A major driver of the Taiwan economy, the retail industry has gained momentum from technological development, rising disposable income, and the entrance of international players. In the newly published 2017 Taiwan White Paper, the Retail Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei recommends practical steps for the government to take to improve the…
Taiwan’s Statute for Control of Cosmetics Hygiene (the Cosmetics Act for short) was first enacted in 1972. Now the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) is proposing a series of amendments aimed at modernizing the law to take into account developments in the cosmetics industry over the past four-plus decades. In the recently published 2017…
At issue, the regulation of capsules and the basing of penalties on capital strength. AmCham Taipei’s Retail Committee in February prepared two position papers containing recommendations to the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) regarding recent issues of concern to its member companies. The first involves the current regulation requiring that all imported foods (including…
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…
The proposed approach to regulating meal replacement foods would create some serious problems. Meal replacement formula foods and beverages are used most commonly by dieters looking to shed some weight. The product is intended to be only a partial replacement for conventional meals – not the sole contributor to one’s daily intake. Since the purpose…
The GMP system is designed to bring sufficient expertise to the certification process. Elden Cheng, vice president in charge of production for leading Taiwan tofu-maker Brothers Farm Foods Co., hardly looks forward to the annual Costco audit his company must endure to keep its products on Costco’s shelves. The process takes at least a day…
In its short five years of existence, Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has had to confront a number of hot button issues at the center of national controversies, including plasticizers in cold drinks and food items, starches contaminated with illegal chemical additives, and waste and feed oil in the edible oils supply. By Timothy…
Note: This article is the first part of a 3-part cover feature. [Part 2: TFDA in the Cross Hairs] [Part 3: The Advantages of Industry Self-regulation] Good eating has long been one of the joys of living in Taiwan, but a series of food-related scandals has left the public concerned about the safety and reliability…
How to protect animals while also ensuring consumer safety? A bill currently before the Legislative Yuan would prohibit the manufacture and sale in Taiwan of cosmetics products tested on animals when alternative methods are available. It would authorize the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) to designate the alternative methods specified for industry use. If…
