Keep your nerves tight! Taipei City conducts large-scale inspections of 22 businesses

The Taipei City Government Health Bureau specially implemented the Department of Health's plan to expand the sampling of beta-receptor factors in commercially available meat. On the 20th, together with the Consumer Protection Officer and the Education Bureau, they went to 22 meat-using and selling businesses in the jurisdiction (including 5 supermarkets, 2 hypermarkets, 10 catering businesses, 3 traditional markets, and 2 school meat suppliers). A total of 36 pieces of meat (15 beef, 14 pork, 2 geese, 1 duck, and 4 chicken) were sampled and sent to the Health Bureau's laboratory for testing of 7 beta-receptor factors. The test results will be announced immediately after they are available.

The Taipei City Government Health Bureau has specially implemented the Executive Yuan Department of Health's expansion of the beta-receptor sampling program for commercially available meat, and reminds the public that if they have any food safety and hygiene issues or consumer concerns, they can check the Food and Drug Consumer Information Service Network. (Photo/taken from Food and Drug Consumer Knowledge Service Network)

The Taipei City Government's Health Bureau stated that the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, has set a plan to expand the sampling plan for beta-receptor agonists in commercially available meat. The national target number of samples is 1,000, and Taipei City is responsible for sampling 113 samples. The Health Bureau expects to complete the sampling and inspection between March 20 and April 18. For those whose inspection results do not meet the requirements, they will be considered to have violated Article 11, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Food Sanitation Management Act, which states "The content of animal drugs exceeds the safe tolerance limit." In addition to confiscating and destroying the products in accordance with Article 29, Paragraph 1 of the same Act, the source business may also be fined NT$60,000 to NT$6 million in accordance with Article 31 of the same Act.

In addition, the Taipei City Government established the "Ractopamine Task Force for Meat Animals" on March 7. The various city government departments will divide up their tasks and conduct inspections and guidance on the "product name" and "country of origin" labeling of places that sell, use, and supply beef in accordance with the law. As of the 20th, a total of 918 businesses were inspected and no non-compliance was found.

The Department of Health stated that the Taipei City policy is based on the two principles of "ensuring public food safety" and "respecting professionalism" as the primary considerations. Ractopamine is currently still not allowed to be detected according to the law. In the future, the Department of Health will strictly control and conduct continuous sampling in accordance with regulations. If any products that do not meet the regulations are found, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law and the violators will be notified.