Confectionery Association Vice Chairman Hong Jianlong Speaks at the Hong Junpei Culture and Education Foundation

(Taiwan TB News Network / Reporter Zeng Caixuan) Anyone who has been to Japan will feel that one of Japan's greatest charms is its delicious snack foods, but in fact Taiwan is no less impressive. The Hong Junpei Culture and Education Foundation invited Hong Jianlong, Vice Chairman of the Taiwan Confectionery, Biscuit and Flour Food Industry Association, on November 8 to give a talk titled "Confectionery and Biscuits: Innovation and Breakthroughs." Drawing on his many years of background in biotechnology and food research and in serving the industry, Vice Chairman Hong shared his experience, giving the public a glimpse into the industry.

Over the past decade, the instant noodle market has shown steady development, while the candy (including chewing gum) and biscuit markets have grown by a relatively larger margin. The current confectionery and biscuit association has 149 member manufacturers, with annual output value exceeding 700 million USD; in 2014 total export value was about 85 million USD. In view of the fact that the government has signed the ECFA agreement with mainland China, negotiations on a goods trade agreement will soon proceed rapidly, but how to secure favorable terms for us during the negotiation process, and, regarding the opening up and deregulation of imports of mainland Chinese goods, the demand that our government should have comprehensive supporting measures in place, are truly important issues.

When Taiwan's high-quality products are exported to overseas markets, they often encounter various problems or difficulties such as tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, inspections, and labeling. Fortunately, the confectionery and biscuit union has already established two groups, an "Export Trade Group" and an "Import Trade Group," to respond.

The amendment to the Food Sanitation Management Act officially took effect on June 21, 102 ROC year. The amended provisions on food labeling added new requirements such as "labeling the manufacturer, and for specific products, indicating the percentage of main ingredients; those mixing two or more food additives shall not label only the name of the use."

In addition, Hong Jianlong, Vice Chairman of the Confectionery Association, stated that when products are exported to Southeast Asian countries, they often face high tariffs of over 20%, whereas mainland China, because of the FTA signed with ASEAN, is subject to tariffs of only 10% or less, so Taiwan's confectionery and biscuit products are already at a disadvantage in exporting to that region; moreover, tariff rates on some confectionery and biscuit products in the United States, Australia, and Canada remain relatively high, such as a 9.5% tariff on chewing gum in Canada and a tariff on chocolate in Malaysia as high as 15%. If our country can join the TPP, it will in the future help related products improve their price competitiveness and consolidate our position in major overseas markets.

Furthermore, if in the future all TPP member states can harmonize relevant technical regulations (such as food packaging labeling and food safety), it will help our country's domestic food management system align with international standards, not only gaining more appropriate management of relevant domestic obligations, but also helping reduce the relevant obligation requirements for exports to other countries and strengthening the export competitiveness of our products.

Taiwanese manufacturers must find a way to forge their own path, and still keep their roots in Taiwan, because technology is prone to outflow problems, especially in food-related industries, which must be deeply cultivated locally and develop technology; cultivating these things is not so easy.

Brief profile of Hong Jianlong, Vice Chairman of the Confectionery Association:

Bachelor's degree from the Department of Plant Protection at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, master's degree from the Plant Pest and Disease Pathology Group at National Taiwan University, and doctorate in plant pests and diseases from National Taiwan University. He has served as a lecturer at Xinzhuang Community University and Yonghe Community University, assistant researcher in the Science and Technology Advisory Group of the Executive Yuan, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry of the College of Medicine at Taipei Medical University, and executive director of the Taiwan District Confectionery, Biscuit and Flour Food Industry Association, among other positions. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Taiwan District Confectionery, Biscuit and Flour Food Industry Association, member of the Food National Standards Technical Committee of the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, supervisor of the Taiwan Grain Industry Development Association, supervisor of the China Domestic and Overseas Traditional Chinese Medicine Academic Development Research Center, and founder of Asia Ruis Biotechnology Company, among other positions. He holds the qualification of medicated diet chef of the Medicated Diet Professional Committee of the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine; he has received the Silver Medal of the Invention Award of the National Invention and Creation Award, the Taipei Biotechnology Award, and multiple patents.