- Date:2018-07-14
- Department:Chemicals Administration Ministry of Environment
On 28 June 2018, the EPA declared 16 chemicals as toxic chemicals. They include 14 dyes that may be illegally added into animal feeds or food like Sudan Red and two persistent organic pollutants that cannot be easily broken down, lauric acid and perfluorooctanoic acid.
The EPA stated that these 14 materials, including Sudan Red, are chemical dyes. Some enterprises put them into food or feeds illegally to save costs or make products more appealing, resulting in human health risks. For example, Sudan Red is applied in coloring of furniture paint, shoe oil, floor wax, car wax, and fat for industrial use as it does not fade easily despite its high cost. In 2017, it was found in duck eggs sold on markets during governmentinitiated inspections.
The EPA pointed out that these 14 substances with risks to food safety are announced as toxic chemicals after careful evaluation of the first announcement of 13 substances as toxic chemicals in 2017. It aims to track its use and flow via crossdepartmental collaboration and the announced control mechanism for approval, registration, and labelling. Investigations will be carried out to track sources and ascertain whether additives are sold to food-producing enterprises once they are found in food products. Sanitary agencies will also be notified to impose penalties based on the Toxic Chemical Substance Control Act.
The announcement also placed two persistent organic pollutants, lauric acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, on the control list. The EPA mentioned that lauric acid is mainly used in treating textile and leather preservation and has been listed for future elimination by the Stockholm Convention. Despite ongoing debate on whether to ban it or limit its production, perfluorooctanoic acid is declared as a Class 4 toxic chemical substance to be aligned with the latest international trend. Future control will be tightened depending on the Convention’s evaluation result.
The EPA reminded that production, import, sales, use, and storage of these 16 substances all need to obtain approval in advance and also file regular reports. All enterprises are to complete various requirements before deadlines, including regular reporting by 1 January 2019, labeling by 1 July 2019, and obtaining approval documents by 1 January 2020. Production, import, and sales without following the above regulations will lead to fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$5,000,000.
Source: EPA Major Environmental Policies, July 2018
