TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA, 食藥署) on Tuesday (Jan. 7) released its latest list of border inspection failures, revealing pesticide residues in spice powder imported by a well-known Indian restaurant chain. Authorities will either return or destroy all 60 kilograms of the product.
Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) noted that the spice powder, originating from the United Arab Emirates, contained tricyclazole (三賽唑) at 0.05 ppm and fipronil sulfone (芬普尼代謝物) at 0.003 ppm, exceeding Taiwan's pesticide residue standards. Lin explained the regulatory limits, stating that the quantitation limit for fipronil is 0.002 ppm, and tricyclazole should not be detected. Consequently, the agency will mandate 100% pesticide residue testing for future imports from the restaurant chain.
Also, Quantas (奎達實業股份有限公司) imported garlic Parmesan-flavored powder from the United States, which tested positive for 0.4 ppm of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide, violating the non-detection standard. Lin highlighted the agency's ongoing efforts, stating that from Aug. 12, 2024, to Feb. 11, 2025, they will conduct batch-by-batch inspections of U.S. seasoning sauces to prevent non-compliant products from entering the market.
TFDA statistics show that out of 321 batches reported from the U.S. in the past six months, 20 batches, or 6.2%, failed inspections. From Nov. 23 to Dec. 22, 2024, the agency halted imports from 15 American manufacturers. Lin emphasized that initial violations would result in a one-month suspension, with potential extensions for repeat offenses, and did not rule out permanent import bans for persistent non-compliance.
