Health minister Chiu Wen-ta reported to the ruling Kuomintang on Wednesday about upcoming food safety reforms.
Chiu said that the ministry plans to amend 27 food safety related acts and strengthen the registration, tracking, and source control of waste oil. It also plans to offer legal protection for whistleblowers. Chiu said that he hopes these reforms can help regain the public’s confidence.
President Ma ying-jeou said the government has responded quicker to the recent food safety scandal but also expressed alarm that food safety issues keep recurring. He also said he was incredulous how the Pingtung government did not punish the factory even after people had complained about it. Ma said the local and central government need to work together on food safety.
"I want to say again, that the local government plays a key role in execution so the local government must take responsibility and the central government will support them," said Ma. "We hope that the Ministry of Health and Welfare will take hold of this principle and control the sources and give enough support to the local government so that they can effectively enact the law. We hope that this food safety scandal is the last and that the government will be determined to make it so."
Ma also said that they could consider setting an act that would enable employees to be whistleblowers if they work in companies that are violating food safety laws.