Audits and guidance visits

• Date:2017-09-05
• Department:Evaluation Management Division

"Source control" is the first segment of the five segments of food safety, and is also the foundation of public food safety, reassurance and sustainability. Since its inception, in the effort to protect food safety, the CHA has implemented specialized and powerful inspection to put a stop to chemical substances being added to food manufacturing processes by illegal manufacturers. The CHA has also complied with the Five Segments program by working with local Environmental Protection Bureaus to initiate the 2017 Guidance Visit Program for Chemical Substances with Food Safety Risks. Guidance visits have been provided to more than 2000 domestic chemical substances (raw material) suppliers. Through the guidance visits to the chemical substances suppliers, the CHA has strengthened suppliers’ basic understanding of chemical substances, and further boosted their understanding of how chemical raw materials flow through the environment, to avoid illegal use of substances that harm public health.

Guidance visits

In conjunction with the Executive Yuan’s promotion of the 2017 Incentive Program to Encourage Local Governments to Implement the Five Segment Reform Policy for Food Safety (Draft), and prior to the completion of the regulations governing chemical raw material (substance) suppliers, the CHA has formulated four counseling and management approaches: guiding the industry to actively become involved in and cooperate with preventing chemical substances from flowing into food production, including “Interrogation” of the flow of chemical substances; “Tracking down” the purpose of purchases; “Managing” storage zone indications; and immediately "Reporting" illegal usage. These approaches are referred to as the Four Major Management Approaches (“Interrogation,” “Tracking down,” “Managing” and “Reporting”). In addition, the relevant baseline data for suppliers collected during inspection and guidance visits will facilitate subsequent investigation into abnormal usage and flow tracing.

"Four-Must" Management

In May 2017, the CHA and local Environmental Protection Bureaus fully launched the 2017 Guidance Visit Program for Chemical Substances with Food Safety Risks and conducted guidance visits on more than 2000 domestic chemical substances (raw material) suppliers to declare the central government, local government and industry’s determination to work together to prevent the chemical substances with food safety risks from entering food production stream, and to show the government’s concern and the industry’s proactive efforts to reassure the public.

CHA strengthens dissemination of "Four-Must" Management for Chemical Raw Materials:

1. The requirement to have "Separate storage" means that "chemical raw materials" and "food additives" must be stored in different areas and different cabinets, and must be labeled. The chemical raw materials area should be labeled with a warning sign stating "Use in Food Manufacturing Prohibited."
2. The requirement to have "Clear indications" means that the packaging of chemical raw substances must clearly indicate that their use in food, medicine, feeds or fertilizer is prohibited.
3. The requirement to have "Use notifications" means that, with the 57 chemical substances having food safety risks, sellers must ask buyers the purpose of their purchasing and use, and must remind the buyers not to use the substances in food.
4. The requirement to have "Flow record" means that buyers' information, transaction amounts and stored amounts must be recorded, to avoid food safety risks and prove that each seller has paid considerable attention to its responsibility.

Management of 57 chemical substances having food safety risks

The CHA has adopted a phased management approach. In the first phase, the CHA will refers to the 57 chemical substances having food safety risks selected by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare as the 2017 targets for priority examination. Among these are included 8 toxic chemicals, 3 pesticides, and 16 chemical substances in the same categories as food additives. The remaining 30 types of food additive chemical substances are inspection targets for 2017.

Priority announcement for 13 chemical substances

The Environmental Protection Administration announced on April 21, 2017 that 13 chemical substances illegally added to food are toxic chemicals. Meanwhile, in conjunction with the amendment of the Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act, chemical substances that may affect human health or which are suspected of affecting the environment or people's welfare, and which are the subject of international concern, will gradually be included within the scope of management.

The first priority announcement of 13 chemical substances that have been involved in food safety incidents at home and abroad recently included rhodamine B, metanil yellow and rongalite, which have been used in red tangyuan (glutinous rice dumplings), bean curd and spring roll wraps. With the announcement of these chemical substances as toxic chemicals, the government is able to control the import, manufacture and sale of these substances. This helps the government to understand the flow of the substances, and reduce the chance of these substances getting into foods.

In 2018, the Chemical Substances Management Agency announced seven substances including Sudan dyes (Diethyl Yellow, Auramine O, Basic Chrysoidine, Red No.2, Sudan III, Orange II). In 2021, Hydrofluoric Acid was announced. In 2023, five substances (Lead Monoxide, Lead Tetroxide, Sodium Sulfide, Sodium Thiocyanate, and β-Naphthol) were announced along with the substance of concern, Aluminum Phosphide.In 2018, the Chemical Substances Management Agency announced seven substances including Sudan dyes (Diethyl Yellow, Auramine O, Basic Chrysoidine, Red No.2, Sudan III, Orange II). In 2021, Hydrofluoric Acid was announced. In 2023, five substances (Lead Monoxide, Lead Tetroxide, Sodium Sulfide, Sodium Thiocyanate, and β-Naphthol) were announced along with the substance of concern, Aluminum Phosphide.