Laboratory Mission of the National Laboratory Laboratory Function Enhancement
Section 2 Laboratory Function Enhancement
Status
It take initiatives to develop fast and precise testing methods for the timely resolution of critical outbreaks .By identifying the problem, causal factors will be clear out and prevented from recurring. Thus, the consumer’s anxiety and concerns may be relieved by providing scientific information and strategies through the public media.
Policy and Outcome
1. Incident of the Contamination of Dicyandiamide (DCD) in Imported New Zealand Powdered Milk
(1) DCD is an approved nitrification inhibitor for increasing the efficiency of grass fertilizer in New Zealand.
(2) January 24, 2013, the New Zealand authority made an announcement regarding to the trace residue of DCD found in their dairy products. TFDA responded to the DCD residue in milk as soon as the news announced.
(3) TFDA conducted surveillances and reported 1 out of 12 cases of New Zealand powdered milk contained DCD. The residue level is below 0.06 mg/kg which is considered as no health risk concern.
2. Maleic Anhydride Modified Starch Incident
(1) In May 2013, TFDA received a report from the Chiayi station, Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice regarding a suspected ingredient of illegal maleic anhydride modified starch in foods. The illegal starch was used to increase chewy sensation of tapioca balls, flat noodles, and taro balls according to the manufactures.
(2) TFDA started a serial of investigation and developed a new analysis method for maleic anhydride and maleic acid residue in foods. 155 domestic and imported food products were tested. 5 suspected products were found of maleic acid. The violations were confirmed by tracing back the raw material in the factories.
3. Event of Unapproved Genetically Modified (GM) Wheat Found in USA
(1) May 24, 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Roundup Ready GM specific gene was detected in wheat samples from an Oregon field, which was identified as the unapproved GM wheat event MON71800 developed by Monsanto. The announcement had attracted international attention. After information received, TFDA requested further explanation and investigation report from U.S.
government.
(2) TFDA conducted GM wheat investigations of relevant food products and raw materials from border by specific detection methods immediately. All testing results showed no contamination of GM wheat in Taiwan.
4. Copper Chlorophyll Adulterated Oils Incident
(1) October 16, 2013, the Changhua County Health Bureau and the Department’s Central District Administration Center found and reported an incident of illegal Copper Chlorophyll contamination in products labeled 100 % Olive oil. The adulterated oil products were made by the Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co., Ltd.
(2) TFDA investigated the confiscated oil products and successfully developed a testing method for Copper Chlorophyll in edible oils.
(3) TFDA invited experts and scholars to review and validate the developed testing method. Then, surveillances were started.
5. Business Week’s Milk Blunder Incident
(1) In November 2013, an article from Business Week distorted the fact of chemical residues in milk regarding the contaminations of antibiotics, plasticizers, estrogens and sedatives.
(2) TFDA immediately conducted serials of investigations relevant to the article concerns.
Followed by the standard of international recognized regulation, all the above test in results were negative involved with 9 different plasticizing testings, hormones, antidepressants, analgesics and 86 “veterinary drug residues” testings.
6. The Doubt of the Accuracy of Infrared Ear Thermometer
In 2007 to 2010, TFDA had surveyed the accuracy and specification for the infrared ear thermometer. The testing for compliance of the maximum permissible error within ambient operating range was implemented according to EN 12470-5: 2003 standard.
The results show that 70% products do not meet the requirement. In 2013, there were related news reports about the accuracy issues for the infrared ear thermometer.
In 2013, TFDA had conducted on-site audit of products manufacturing and quality control, and performed accuracy test for infrared ear thermometer according to each registration information. The results were shown that 3 items did not correspond to the specification. The test reports were sent to local health authorities for further conductions.
7. The Doubts of the Color Additive Fall off in Marketed Daily wear Contact Lenses
(1) In August 2013, the legislator held a press conference because 13 brands of coloradditive fell off in cosmetic contact lenses. Besides, the local health authorities had also received consumer complains for color additive falling off.
(2) According to guidance for pre-clinical testing of soft contact lenses, color contact lenses may use 31 different kinds of color dye approved by U.S. FDA and color additive extraction test should be passed.
(3) In 2013, 30 samples were collected and examined with each product’s original registration data or the test methods established by TFDA. The results showed that no color additives were extracted from these samples.
8. The Heavy Metal, Cadmium was found in Shiseido Anessa Sunscreen Products in Mainland China
(1) TFDA had announced that the heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury were prohibited from using in cosmetics. The maximum residual limit of the heavy metal, cadmium is 20 ppm.
(2) In 2013, a batch of Shiseido sunscreen imported from Japan to China had been intercepted during entry inspection and quarantine and been found to contain cadmium. The news aroused much fear in Taiwan. TFDA had immediately collaborated with local health authorities to execute toxic heavy metals test for marketed sunscreen products. The results revealed that all products had met hygienic standard for cosmetics in Taiwan.
9. The Acrylamide and Clobetasol Propionate Were Found in China’s Facial Masks
In 2013, the China Food and Drug Administration found the masks contained acrylamide and clobetasol propionate. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) had immediately collaborated with local health authorities to execute chemical test for marketed facial masks. The results showed that all products had met hygienic standard for cosmetics, and allay fears in public.
10. The Doubts of Overdose Triclosan which is Used in Cleaning Products
(1) Triclosan is an antimicrobial commonly found in liquid hand soap, shampoos, bodycleanser, anti-acne products and many other household items. According to TFDA announcement, the maximum limit of Triclosan is 0.3%, and used as antimicrobial.
(2) TFDA had conducted routine inspections for Triclosan in order to monitor and make sure all the products followed the hygiene regulations for recent years. In 2013, news reported that the Triclosan was over in marketed cleaning products. TFDA took prompt action and started immediate inspection for marketed cleaning products. The results showed that all products had met hygienic standard for cosmetics.