TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said Monday that the government will complete inspections of all oil samples produced by Central Union Oil Corp. within one week.
Cho issued the directives after chairing a Cabinet meeting on the Central Union Oil case, per CNA. He said the government will handle the case under the principles of food safety and transparency.
The premier said all oil products manufactured by Central Union Oil between April and June have been removed from shelves as a precaution, while products confirmed to be contaminated have been ordered off the market. He said of the company’s 29 production batches during the period, five have been linked to downstream products that failed safety tests.
Cho said products removed as a precaution may return to store shelves only after passing inspections by the Food and Drug Administration or accredited third-party laboratories. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will establish relisting guidelines, with cross-checks between upstream suppliers and downstream manufacturers.
The premier also directed the ministry to submit draft amendments to the Act Governing Food Safety and related regulations within one week, per RTI. The proposed changes would require upstream suppliers to test every production batch instead of conducting self-inspections every six months, while also strengthening inspection requirements.
Cho also instructed agencies to strengthen inspections of school meal suppliers and ensure stable supplies of edible oil and animal feed. The Cabinet said it will continue releasing testing results and response measures to protect public health.
