Taiwan is planning to ban the use of trans fats, by 2018 at the earliest. That was the word from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday.
The plan is in line with Washington’s move to prohibit the use of the fatty acids in three year’s time.
According to a draft bill in Taiwan, violators could face a fine of up to NT$3 million (US$100,000).
Trans fats are largely used in snacks, margarine and baked goods.
An FDA official in Taiwan said that partially hydrogenated cooking oil produces trans fats, which pose a health hazard since they have been connected to cardiovascular disease.
The official said that a comprehensive ban is unlikely to have a major impact on the food industry when it goes into effect in 2018.