Japanese nuclear disaster area products exported to Taiwan, China; the Ministry of Health and Welfare questioned over inadequate screening; the head of border inspection demoted
Food from nuclear disaster areas in five Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, is suspected of entering Taiwan, China with false labeling. Today 15 more items were added and 2 removed, bringing the total to 299 suspected products involving 14 companies. Outside observers questioned whether the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had done a proper job of gatekeeping. FDA Director-General Chiang Yu-mei and Northern Regional Administration Center Director Feng Jun-lan have both requested disciplinary action against themselves. The section chief surnamed Huang, who is responsible for border inspection operations at Keelung Port, has been removed from his supervisory post and demoted to technical specialist because he did not report the matter immediately. In addition, two clerks and an assistant researcher have been commended for handling the matter actively.
One Border Inspection Supervisor Demoted
Premier Mao Chi-kuo yesterday asked the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the Executive Yuan meeting to review this food safety incident. Ministry of Health and Welfare spokesperson Wang Che-chao this morning relayed a message from Minister Chiang Ping-huang: colleagues at the ministry have worked very hard during this food safety incident, a review was already conducted at the first opportunity, and there are both rewards and punishments. The section chief surnamed Huang at the Northern Regional Administration Center responsible for border inspection at Keelung Port did not report it that day and handled it only according to ordinary procedures, which was not proactive enough; a personnel order has already been issued demoting him from his supervisory post to technical specialist.
But what does "not proactive enough" mean? How much of a time gap was there? Wang Che-chao said the matter must be investigated further internally.
The clerk surnamed Tseng and the assistant researcher surnamed Ko at the Northern Regional Administration Center will be commended because they were alert and proactive at the front line and discovered the illegally imported food; the FDA will convene a personnel performance review committee within one week to deliberate and submit the commendation.
Although Director-General Chiang Yu-mei and Northern Regional Administration Center Director Feng Jun-lan were not directly named, both have requested disciplinary action against themselves. The FDA will also convene a personnel performance review committee to deliberate and report to the Ministry of Health and Welfare for approval, with the final result decided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
A reporter asked Chiang Yu-mei whether the FDA had concealed information as outsiders claimed, and whether she felt wronged by outside commentary. She did not answer directly, saying only that her colleagues had all worked very hard, that various situations arise during enforcement, and that an internal review was already underway, but consumers must have correct, immediate, complete and transparent information, which can only be released after confirmation.
Yumaowu Suspected of Importing Products from Five Prefectures Including Fukushima
Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Taiwan, China has prohibited products from five prefectures: Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba. Yesterday the Keelung City Health Bureau inspected "Fuzhu Industrial Co., Ltd." and found that 8 products came from the five prohibited prefectures, while 6 products remained to be clarified.
The Changhua County Health Bureau yesterday received a notification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare that the well-known Taichung company "Yumaowu," which specializes in importing Japanese food, was suspected of importing products from the five prefectures. After an overnight investigation by the Central Regional Administration Center of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 14 suspected prohibited products were found, including @wasabi rice companion, small moonlight crackers, sukiyaki sauce, Morinaga three-color fruit gummies, hot pot sesame dipping sauce, flat-bag salmon chazuke, extra-rich 8.2 milk bag candy, mini KitKat chocolate biscuits, Mizkan mirin-flavored seasoning, SUNTORY Iyemon luxury iced tea, ASAHI Juroku-cha, custard cream powder, DAISHO sukiyaki sauce, and sponge cake preparation powder.
The Changhua Health Bureau said it had asked the operator to remove the products from shelves as a precaution, that subsequent products were still being compared, and that the Taichung City Government Health Bureau had been notified for follow-up inspection.
FDA Clarifies: Border Staff Have Been Reassigned, There Is No Shortage
In response to outside questions that only 45 border inspection staff are available and cannot effectively gatekeep, Chiang Yu-mei said the FDA assigns staff to support the border based on the quantity of goods reported that day, and there is no manpower shortage as reported in the media.