TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) on Monday pledged to step up inspections of eggs sold across Taiwan after fipronil-tainted products were detected in the market for the first time in seven years.

Shih said the Ministry of Health and Welfare will begin by prioritizing eggs marked with a “C” in their traceability code, indicating they were produced by caged hens. Expanded inspections are set to begin this week nationwide, per CNA.

The Food and Drug Administration recently discovered excessive fipronil residue in eggs from Changhua County during routine testing. The products were traced to Wenya Livestock Farm, which was subsequently barred from shipping eggs.

Investigators later found that Longzhong Egg Shop in Taichung had continued selling eggs from the same farm that also tested positive for fipronil. Authorities believe some of the eggs may have been distributed during a period when movement controls were in effect.

In response, the FDA has intensified its inspections of fresh eggs, expanding both the scope of sampling and the number of samples taken. Shih said the ministry cannot disclose specific details of the new sampling strategy to prevent producers from attempting to evade scrutiny.

He said inspectors will assess producers based on their records, stocking history, and other risk indicators. Since the FDA oversees post-market inspections, Shih noted that close cooperation with agricultural authorities is needed to understand conditions at each chicken farm.

Sampling levels will be adjusted depending on the risk profile of each county and city, Shih said. Test results will be released to the public once the expanded inspections are completed.