safety 結果共347筆

Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu to convene cross-party consultation to discuss Premier Chen Chien-jen’s food safety special report. DPP, TPP, and KMT caucuses express support for the report, emphasizing the importance of setting aside differences for the parliamentary meeting on Feb. 23.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih assures public safety following a warehouse fire in Shenkeng District. Air quality tests show no hydrogen fluoride or heavy metals. Environmental agencies monitor PM2.5, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide levels. Safety measures include avoiding the area, keeping doors and windows shut, wearing masks, and seeking medical advice if needed. Shenkeng District’s Health Center prepares for potential medical demands, while hospitals provide emergency treatment and care for respiratory symptoms. The city government continues to oversee air and water quality examinations to ensure public safety.

Yu Zong Foods Co., parent company of the popular snack Hsia Wei Hsien, issued an apology after traces of Sudan III were found in their product. The contaminated batch, ＂Hsia Wei Hsien - Spicy Flavor,＂ with expiry dates ranging from Sept. 8 to Oct. 2, 2024, has been recalled. Customers can apply for refunds or exchanges until March 31. Yu Zong Foods assured that only this specific batch was affected and pledged to enhance their supplier selection for food safety.

Taipei’s FDA suspends chili powder imports from 21 Chinese suppliers for three months due to health concerns. The powder tested positive for Sudan III, a banned substance, prompting a recall of contaminated products. Sudan III is classified as a possibly carcinogenic substance by the WHO. The FDA warns that adding Sudan III to food violates food safety laws and could lead to severe penalties.

Read about the latest developments in Taiwan’s legislative session regarding food safety reports. Stay informed on the ongoing cross-party talks proposed by the DPP caucus and the upcoming negotiations scheduled for Feb. 23.

Kuomintang legislator Wu Tsung-hsien pushes for a special report on food safety at the Legislative Yuan, sparking political tensions among Taiwan’s major parties. Premier Chen Chien-jen’s administration faces scrutiny as cross-party consultations falter, delaying the proposed review. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) expresses concerns over procedural delays and politicization of the issue. Stay tuned for updates on the unfolding legislative drama in Taipei.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu plans a multi-party meeting to discuss Premier Chen Chien-jen’s food safety report proposal. Expectations are for the 11th legislative term to begin on Feb. 20, with a focus on food safety issues under the DPP’s eight-year tenure. The KMT and DPP are engaging in discussions, with the TPP expressing support for the report.

The Taipei Lantern Festival’s main lantern will be lit on Feb. 17. No official meeting was arranged between the Shanghai delegation and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Mayor Chiang is expected to visit various lantern areas, potentially encountering the Shanghai representatives. The festival features lanterns from 16 cities, including Shanghai. The level of Shanghai’s representation has reportedly been downgraded this year. The Mainland Affairs Council aims to keep a low profile on the delegation’s visit for their safety.

The Ministry of Labor’s Workforce Development Agency Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli Regional Branch organized five job fairs in Taiwan in February, with a total of 150 companies offering 6,000 high-quality vacancies. The job fairs, held in Taoyuan, Zhongli, Hsinchu, and Miaoli, attracted a significant number of companies and job seekers. Notably, the Zhubei Civil Sports Center hosted a job fair on February 22, featuring 52 companies offering 2,400 job vacancies, including positions such as electronic engineer, product engineer, safety engineer, and Japanese translator. Some of these roles boasted top salaries of up to NT$70,000. Another job fair with a manufacturing theme took place in Miaoli on the same day, where the highest salary on offer was NT$60,000. Three job fairs were held in Taoyuan, with the highest salary reaching an impressive NT$100,000. The Director General of the agency, Lai Chia-Jen, highlighted the branch’s commitment to addressing job shortages and promoting employment in the post-epidemic period. To encourage employment, the branch also extended employment incentives for project labor shortages.

Taiwan’s Executive Yuan has announced that no detection of Cimbuterol, a feed additive used to promote leanness in animals, has been found in domestically-produced pork. This preliminary result dismisses concerns about the domestic pork supply being tainted with the substance. In the past, Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s pork slices were found to contain Cimbuterol, causing public concern. The Ministry of Agriculture has inspected 633 pre-market samples, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare has tested 73 post-market samples, with only one sample in Taichung city detecting Cimbuterol. The Health Ministry will strengthen random inspections for ractopamine in pork products and increase the number of annual inspections. The government will also enhance scrutiny of Cimbuterol imports and establish an expert group to assess the risk source at each link. The administration remains committed to ensuring the sanitary safety of pork products and monitoring related residues in various channels. Relevant authorities are dedicated to meeting Taiwan’s veterinary drug residue limits in foods.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip, Ker Chien-ming, has urged the Kuomintang (KMT) to avoid excessive showmanship in response to their request for an extraordinary session at the Legislative Yuan on February 17th. Ker emphasized that extraordinary sessions are typically held during recess periods and that there is no need for an additional meeting since the new session of the Legislative Yuan officially began on February 1st. The KMT caucus had called for an early meeting and invited Premier Chen Chien-jen to give a special report on the issue of ractopamine being detected in Taisugar’s sliced pork. They warned that any delay could obstruct the inaugural policy address. To convene an extraordinary session, the KMT’s Han Kuo-yu must first hold party group consultations, according to Ker. He suggested that once that is done, Premier Chen could be invited to provide a ＂food safety special report＂ on February 20th.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) strongly condemns Taiwan for its treatment of Chinese fishermen after a speedboat capsized in Kinmen waters, resulting in two deaths. The mainland speedboat had breached the Kinmen maritime boundary and was pursued by Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration. After refusing inspection, the boat capsized and two crew members died. The TAO expresses condolences to the victims’ families and demands Taiwan to investigate the incident and assist the families. They also warn Taiwan to respect the historical fishing operations in the Taiwan Strait and ensure the safety of mainland fishermen.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has abruptly halted the solicitation of tours to China, reversing its previous policy. Originally scheduled to open on March 1, tours from Taiwan to China were limited to a daily reference cap of 2,000 people, with the possibility of adjustments based on the travel industry’s ability to attract customers. The decision to halt the tours immediately was made in response to China’s failure to organize tours to Taiwan and its unilateral change of the M503 flight route without goodwill, which poses a threat to flight safety. The Tourism Administration, a part of the MOTC, believes that given the current circumstances, it is not in the best interest of Taiwanese nationals to travel to China. They continue to appeal to China to demonstrate goodwill and promote cross-strait tourism exchange. Tours that have already been solicited and are due to depart between March 1 and May 31, 2024, will proceed as planned to protect passenger rights, but tours after June 1 are not permitted to depart. Travel companies are urged to refrain from soliciting customers to avoid potential disputes.

Feastogether, a popular restaurant in Kaohsiung’s Dream Mall, has been temporarily closed for a thorough cleanliness inspection after reports of food poisoning. Several diners who ate at the restaurant last Saturday experienced vomiting and diarrhea. The Kaohsiung City Government’s Department of Health is investigating the source of the contamination. If food safety regulations have been violated, fines exceeding NT＄60,000 could be imposed. The Feastogether Group has pledged to cooperate fully with government food safety policies and assist affected customers.

Former Taiwan National Security Council secretary-general Su Chi believes there is a low likelihood of President Tsai Ing-wen visiting Taiping Island in the South China Sea. Su cites concerns over U.S. objections and the potential risk to Tsai’s safety as reasons for this prediction. He points out that the U.S. opposes Taiwan’s involvement in South China Sea issues and that Tsai would have to contend with Chinese fighter jets, aerial escorts, and security threats if she were to visit the island. Su also notes that the U.S. would not support such a trip as it could emphasize Taiwan’s political stance in the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China.

Premier Chen Chien-jen calls for central and local governments to ensure food safety in response to the discovery of Cimbuterol, or ＂lean meat powder,＂ in TaiSugar pork. This issue is particularly important as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches. Chen expresses gratitude to the Taichung City Government for re-testing the pork sample and hopes for swift publication of the scientific verification results. The Health Bureau of Taichung City Government previously announced that the level of Cimbuterol in the sampled TaiSugar pork exceeded the limit. Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang urges caution in handling the case, while Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen emphasizes the top priority of ensuring food safety and advocates for rigorous and swift measures.

Taipei’s Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare questions Taichung City’s decision to publicly announce the presence of Cimbuterol in local pork produce, insisting on a thorough investigation before disclosure. Taichung City’s Office of Food and Drug Safety found the banned substance in frozen pork slices produced by TaiSugar. The city health bureau defended the immediate announcement, citing the need to protect consumers and citizens’ health interests. The Executive Yuan expressed doubts about the test results, citing unusually low levels of Cimbuterol detected and suggesting further investigations. Taichung City’s Office of Food and Drug Safety informed Pingtung County’s Public Health Bureau and Tainan’s Public Health Bureau for further investigation. Organizations like the Executive Yuan’s Consumer Protection Committee and the Consumers’ Foundation tend to directly announce results when adulterated products are found, justifying Taichung’s disclosure. The office conducted three tests using two methodologies, with one result exceeding the quantitative limit. Only TaiSugar’s product tested positive for Cimbuterol. TaiSugar has called for a re-examination of the test results and sent the sample to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Food and Drug Administration for reinspection.

Explore how Taiwan is addressing the increasing traffic violations through a comprehensive approach involving traffic enforcement cameras, enhanced traffic safety education, and strategic urban planning, as highlighted by experts.

The Vision Zero pedestrian safety advocacy group calls on Taiwan’s new congress to support a draft pedestrian traffic safety facilities law. The group recommends comprehensive implementation of sidewalks, removal of sidewalk obstacles, standardization of temporary sidewalks during construction, and explicit arcade project guidelines. The draft law must be proposed by the National Land Management Agency and approved by the executive branch before being reviewed by the Legislative Yuan. Despite the passing of a basic road traffic safety law in 2023, Vision Zero notes that the projected death toll may still exceed 3,000. The chairman of Vision Zero, Chen Kai-ning, proposes four amendments to the law, including the provision of physical sidewalks on wider roads, marking sidewalk designations on narrower roads, establishing basic sidewalk standards and non-permissible uses, and installing physical sidewalks beside arcades. Between January and November 2023, there were 2,759 road fatalities and 367,311 recorded severe accidents in Taiwan, representing an increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Taiwan’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Wang Kuo-tsai, expresses regret after China unilaterally adjusts flight routes, raising aviation safety concerns. The decision to cancel the ＂offset measure＂ for the M503 flight route and start east to west operations near Taiwan without bilateral negotiation has led to potential conflicts between civilian and military aircraft. The proximity of Route M503 to the Taipei Flight Information Region poses a risk, with the nearest point just 4.2 nautical miles away. Take-off and landing in Matsu and Kinmen without prior consultation could also raise safety issues. The national security units are now handling the situation and consulting with the Civil Aviation Administration and the military to develop responsive measures.

Tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait as China unilaterally adjusts the M503 flight route, drawing criticism from Taiwan’s officials and concerns over regional stability and airspace management ahead of Taiwan’s elections.

The funeral ceremony of a middle school student who was stabbed by a schoolmate was held in New Taipei. The bereaved family demanded judicial reform and swift and severe punishment for the offender, hoping to establish a norm of ＂life for a life.＂ They detailed the brutal incident, including the victim’s cardiac arrest, open-heart surgery, and subsequent death. The family pleaded for just and stiff penalties for both the perpetrator and abettor to ensure justice. They expressed skepticism towards the judiciary mechanism and its treatment of offenders, and voiced deep regret. The incident has had a significant impact on the family, particularly the deceased’s dependent sister who is now left to manage on her own. The family appreciated the assistance from kind-hearted individuals in caring for the sister and managing affairs after the child’s death. They fervently urged the judiciary to prioritize public safety, protect innocent victims, and ensure appropriate punishment for murderers and instigators.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has responded to a citizen-led initiative calling for changes in traffic practices. The ministry announced that the regulation allowing two-stage left turns will not be abolished entirely but should be evaluated based on site-specific characteristics. The initiative also called for the prohibition of motorbikes on inner lanes of general roads and reform of the driver’s license test system. The MOTC stated that local governments should assess and plan motorbike lanes and two-stage left turn control measures according to their specific road traffic conditions. The ministry emphasized that motorbike riders should follow road sign guidance, and universal rules should only be followed in the absence of signs. In terms of the licensing system, the ministry has implemented a motorbike training program since 2019 to enhance driving quality and response capabilities. The program has been successful, resulting in a 56% decrease in traffic violations and a 35% decrease in accidents by 2022. The Highway Bureau of MOTC plans to continue promoting the program and implementing road training measures in 2024, periodically reviewing and adjusting the test content to optimize the training system for motorbike operators.

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Mount Hehuan covered in a 10-centimeter snowfall. Despite the sunny skies, the snow remained intact due to the mountain’s high altitude and low temperatures. Enthusiasts flocked to witness the mesmerizing scene, with ice pellets gracefully falling alongside the snow. The recent cold spell from the mainland caused temperatures to plummet, creating a chilly blanket across Taiwan. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of Nantou Branch advised using four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow chains for safety. Stay warm and properly equipped with crampons, ice axes (or trekking poles), helmets, and sufficient warm clothing for a winter mountain climbing adventure.

Retailers in Taiwan selling Toblerone chocolate are concerned about food safety after plastic contaminants were found in the brand’s products in Hong Kong. Contact attempts to the chocolate’s import company have been unsuccessful so far. The affected product is the ’Milk Chocolate with Honey and Almond Nougat’ with batch code OOY4233553, weighing 100 grams and best before Dec. 1, 2024. Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety is currently investigating the issue, and importers and distributors in Hong Kong have already stopped selling this batch and initiated a recall.