(CNA reporter Lin Ching-yin, Taipei, April 15) Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced in April an amendment to the permissible residue limit of the pesticide 'fenpropanil' on apples. Taichung City Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen questioned whether the MOHW had been under pressure. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chong-liang stated today that the U.S. standard is set at 5 ppm, while Taiwan's is 3 ppm. He emphasized that Taiwan's standard does not directly follow the U.S. benchmark but was carefully established based on scientific evidence and domestic needs, and is unrelated to the Taiwan-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART).

During a press briefing before the Social Welfare and Public Health Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed a draft amendment to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, Shih explained that the MOHW's announcement on April 21 regarding Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides covered 174 items, of which 120 were domestically produced and 54 were imported.

Shih stated that all adjustments were proposed due to requests from farmers or industry stakeholders and were made after expert discussions and evaluations.

Regarding apples, Shih noted that the application to adjust the fenpropanil MRL standard was first submitted in 2022 (Year 111 of the ROC calendar). After rigorous assessment and expert deliberation, the proposal was announced for public comment in January 2024 and officially promulgated in April.

He further explained that previously, apples did not have a separate fenpropanil MRL standard and were grouped under the broader category of pome fruits. Japan sets the fenpropanil MRL for apples at 2 ppm, South Korea at 3 ppm, and the U.S. at 5 ppm, indicating that Taiwan's standard of 3 ppm falls between those of major countries. Shih argued that since the U.S. standard is higher at 5 ppm, Taiwan's lower limit of 3 ppm cannot be seen as directly following the U.S., and therefore, the adjustment has no connection to the ART agreement. (Edited by Lin Shu-yuan) 1150715

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Taiwan