TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s opposition parties criticized the government for easing import restrictions on American potatoes used for processing, calling the move a retreat on food safety standards.
Previously, customs authorities rejected an entire container if a single potato had sprouts longer than 5 millimeters, per SETN. Under new rules tied to the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, Taiwan will instead allow imports of potatoes used for processing — such as for making fries — even if they are sprouted, rotted, or moldy, provided solanine levels do not exceed 200 parts per million.
The stricter rules will remain in place for fresh potatoes sold in retail markets.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said the 200 ppm solanine threshold is consistent with domestic safety standards, per CNA. Deputy Director Chen Hung-po (陳宏伯) said that if inspectors find sprouted, moldy, or rotted potatoes, the shipment will be sent to designated processing facilities where defective items will be removed, per UDN.
He added that the revised standard is in line with Japan’s requirements for potatoes intended for processing.
The KMT legislative caucus argued the change prioritizes cost savings for exporters over consumer safety, per ETtoday. KMT Legislator Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽) said the presence of sprouted potatoes could indicate poor storage conditions, per China Times.
The TPP echoed those concerns, warning that government laboratories may lack sufficient capacity to test shipments for solanine, per NOWNews. It noted that only two civilian labs are currently qualified to conduct such screening.
The DPP legislative caucus defended the policy, saying Taiwan maintains a “three-layer defense” system to protect consumers, per SETN. It said potatoes undergo selection and preparation by producers, inspection by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, and additional checks after entering the market.
The DPP legislative caucus said defective potatoes would be discarded, per ETtoday. It also described concerns over sprouted potatoes as “cognitive warfare,” alleging the narrative aims to undermine Taiwan-US relations by casting doubt on bilateral trade achievements.
Yen Tzung-hai (顏宗海), director of the Clinical Poison Center at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, warned that solanine from sprouted potatoes could contaminate an entire batch, per Global Views. Toxicology experts have raised concerns about the potential for cross-contamination if shipments containing compromised potatoes are allowed entry.
