Performing drug and pesticide residue testing

　To ensure the safety of farming, fishery, and livestock products and foodstuffs, the COA has implemented a variety of tests on agricultural products. The COA screened for pesticide residue in the fields and at distribution centers, testing 4,499 fruits and vegetables, 1,005 tea samples, and 600 organic products. In addition, the Agricultural Research Institute aided farmers groups and markets in setting up their own biochemical test centers, which tested 497,184 samples. In 2008, a total of 33,155 samples of meat and poultry were randomly selected for pre-market drug quality screening. Samples of feed were also randomly tested for antibiotics and sulfonamides 2,705 times with negative results in all but 1.7% of tests. To protect consumers, farmers are required to delay harvesting if they receive positive test results. They also receive follow up consultation or the case is sent to the local government for legal action and enhanced monitoring. Under the fishery product drug residue, heavy metals, and hygiene screening program, 1,793 samples were randomly chosen for testing. A total of 380 samples of feed were tested for drug residues and melamine. In the event that a sample fails to meet required standards, the local government consults with the firm and destroys all substandard items. With guidance from the COA, fish markets performed rapid drug residue testing and random hygiene testing on 2,500 samples and prevented the auction of substandard products.

Monitoring slaughterhouse operations

　By 2008, slaughterhouse management programs were completed at 61 sites for meats and 37 for poultry. In addition, one application for a meat slaughterhouse and 23 applications for poultry were approved and programs are currently being set up. Around 400 slaughterhouse hygiene inspectors were appointed to slaughterhouses around the country to monitor cleanliness and sanitation. In 2008, over 8.18 million head of livestock and 232 million poultry birds were inspected. Portions or entire specimens of substandard livestock were discarded, representing 20% of examined or 1.65 million animals. At poultry slaughterhouses, 6.42 million birds failed inspection, representing 3% of the total. Organs from discarded carcasses were also destroyed to prevent them from entering the market. The COA visited 106 slaughterhouses to carry out equipment and procedure inspections, encouraging firms to correct any deficiencies to provide higher quality, safer products. In addition, the COA is actively supervising and directing local governments to crack down on illegal slaughtering. A total of 721 searches were performed uncovering 56 incidents of illegal activities. All carcasses and their intestines found in illegal cases were incinerated or otherwise destroyed, resulting in the destruction of 20.6 metric tons of livestock products and 4,188 birds.

Promotion of CAS certification for premier agricultural products

　In 1989, the COA established the CAS certification program in order to improve the quality of domestic agricultural products and foods made from them, thereby protecting the rights and interests of consumers. Since its inception 20 years ago, the CAS logo has become widely accepted in the industry and has come to represent safety and quality to consumers. Currently, CAS certified products include meats, frozen foods, fruit and vegetable juices, rice, preserved fruits and vegetables, ready-to-serve meals, fresh edible mushrooms, refrigerated foods, fermented products, snack foods, egg products, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, forestry and aquacultural products.. A total of 288 firms have earned a combined 5,945 CAS certifications. Each year, 700,000 tons of certified goods with a value of more than NT$4.2 billion are produced.

　CAS certified goods are produced in Taiwan using exclusively domestic agricultural ingredients. The certification system has improved quality and added value to Taiwanese agricultural products, ensuring farmers’ incomes and reducing the impact of imported foods on Taiwan’s agricultural sector. In order to promote and enhance the administration of premium agricultural food certification, the CAS system was incorporated into the “Agricultural Production and Certification Act.” The COA also revised the “Regulations Governing the Certification of Premium Agricultural Produce” and “Regulation for Management of Agricultural Marks”, which serve as the legal basis for the CAS system of quality certification.

　The COA closely monitors the agencies that perform factory verification and product testing in order to ensure public trust. In addition, we aim to enhance public propagation to increase Taiwanese consumers’ confidence in CAS certified premium agricultural products.

Expanding organic farming

　The development of organic farming is an important part of the COA’s goal of creating a healthy, efficient, and sustainable agricultural sector. With this in mind, the COA has established an organic product certification management program under the Agricultural Production and Certification Act.

　To promote the development of organic agriculture and improve organic farming techniques, the COA has established an organic farming and harvesting training program. We have also enhanced assistance to farmers applying for organic certification, promoted organic farmer organizations, and expanded the amount of land farmed organically. Long-term cooperation with distributors has been established to expand marketing channels and the CAS organic agricultural certification has been created. By the end of 2008, 978 farms passed organic certification covering a total of 2,356 hectares growing paddy rice, vegetables, fruits, teas, and other crops.

Promoting a traceability system for agricultural products

　By promulgating the Agricultural Production and Certification Act, the COA has developed and put the legal framework in place for the agricultural product traceability certification system. We have drawn up a series of Taiwan Good Agricultural Practices (TGAP) in line with international safety standards, established a traceability information retrieval system, and set up terminals in various supermarkets allowing consumers to trace the products they purchase. In addition, the impartial third party conformity assessment system in introduced to maintain reliability.

　At the end of 2008, there were a total of 12 certification bodies accredited by the Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (TAF) to certify a variety of agricultural products including regular crops, processed crops, livestock products, poultry products, processed poultry and livestock products, fishery products, and processed fishery products. These organizations certified a total of 1,035 agricultural product operators, which cover an area of over 4,000 hectares and produce 109 products currently on the market. We choose products to be included in the agricultural product traceability system based on a variety of factors. Priority was given to products whose import countries require traceability, those with stable distribution channels and whose price can reflect the production costs, and those about which there are some safety concerns. The COA also worked to enhance understanding of the system to ensure that consumers can gain peace of mind by taking advantage of the information available to quickly and easily choose safe products.

Enhancing disease prevention measures in plants and animals

　The COA continues to implement eradication measures for swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. Taiwan, together with the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu, is implementing a trial phase-out of the foot-and-mouth vaccine, which is proceeding successfully. By enhancing monitoring and educating poultry farmers about self-protection measures, the COA hopes to prevent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Stringent screening programs have confirmed that Taiwan is free from rabies, HPAI, Mediterranean fruit flies, and codling moths. Consolidated efforts among the central and local governments have effectively controlled red imported fire ants (RIFA). Integrated pest management has been effective for large-scale control of common cutworms (Spodoptera litura) and oriental fruit flies (Bactocera dorsalis) that resulted in substantial reductions in the use of pesticides. Inspections for the use of illegal pesticides and veterinary drugs were intensified to ensure product quality and safety.

　In 2008, inspections were conducted on 440,000 tons of animal and plant products for export and 12.5 million tons of imported products. Over the past year, 437 smuggled birds and 11 metric tons of illegally imported animal products were seized and destroyed. In accordance with export quarantine laws, extermination and screening procedures were implemented on fruits exported to the USA, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Chile, and Australia that measured 2,477.8 metric tons, and a total of 9.51 million butterfly orchid seedlings with growing media were exported to America, South Korea, and Canada.

　To prevent pests and diseases from entering Taiwan, 31 detector dogs and their handlers were stationed at international airports, freight storage facilities, international postal centers, and Kinmen Harbor to intercept smuggled products. In 2008, a total of 42,000 items, weighing 51 metric tons, was seized.