News
Agriculture and Food Agency orders inspection of confusing packet labels on imported rice blended with local rice
2006-04-13
The Agriculture and Food Agency of the Council of Agriculture said that some of the content description and promotional statements found on the small packs of imported rice blended with locally produced rice selling in the market could mislead consumers. The Agency said that this is a violation of the “Food Content Disclosure Regulations” and has unveiled a nationwide investigation into such products. Suppliers who have violated the regulations have been legally mandated to recall their products immediately. Those who do not abide within two weeks will be fined from NT$15,000 to NT$60,000 in line with Article 18 of the “Food Management Law.”
The Agency said that the Food Content Disclosure Regulations require the labels on such blended rice selling in the market to disclose their country of origin and their mixture ratio. The label should also state the product title and product description and have a picture or a symbol that ensures its authenticity. Such information is meant to prevent consumers from being misled. Most labels on imported rice blended with local rice already state its country of origin and mixture ratio. But they would still be in violation of the Food Content Disclosure Regulations if they misled consumers to believe that they were locally produced. The agency has also demanded that suppliers recall such products immediately.
The Agriculture and Food Agency has said that in order to ensure the rights of consumers, it is now working on the amendment of laws and regulations that would require the product origin and mixture ratio be clearly stated on the bottom of the package. The size of the letters should not be smaller than 0.6 cm. The new regulations will be implemented on 1st July, 2006.
The Agency said that after Taiwan’s accession to the WTO, domestic sales of imported rice has been a matter of course. The government relies on international standards for its rice imports. Inspection standards for the edible quality of imported rice sold in the local market also follow national standards.
The Agency said that the Food Content Disclosure Regulations require the labels on such blended rice selling in the market to disclose their country of origin and their mixture ratio. The label should also state the product title and product description and have a picture or a symbol that ensures its authenticity. Such information is meant to prevent consumers from being misled. Most labels on imported rice blended with local rice already state its country of origin and mixture ratio. But they would still be in violation of the Food Content Disclosure Regulations if they misled consumers to believe that they were locally produced. The agency has also demanded that suppliers recall such products immediately.
The Agriculture and Food Agency has said that in order to ensure the rights of consumers, it is now working on the amendment of laws and regulations that would require the product origin and mixture ratio be clearly stated on the bottom of the package. The size of the letters should not be smaller than 0.6 cm. The new regulations will be implemented on 1st July, 2006.
The Agency said that after Taiwan’s accession to the WTO, domestic sales of imported rice has been a matter of course. The government relies on international standards for its rice imports. Inspection standards for the edible quality of imported rice sold in the local market also follow national standards.
