The government is set to issue guidelines for lead faucets. That’s the word from Cabinet Spokesman Sun Lih-chyun on Saturday.
Sun’s comments come following revelations about the higher level of lead in water faucets.
A local newspaper says faucets used in Taiwan contain 3% to 7% lead, which is 28 times higher than what is deemed safe in Europe and the United States. The report also says as there are no rules governing the use of lead in faucets, nearly all manufacturers use a higher amount of lead to save costs.
Sun said while Taiwan, like Japan, does not have rules yet, the economics ministry has mapped out a standard and is set to announce its regulations soon.
As for the lead water pipes, Sun said Premier Mao Chi-kuo has instructed the Taiwan Water Corporation and the Water Resources Agency under the Economics Ministry to deal with the problem soon. Sun said the government has enough budget to replace lead water pipes with new ones and will use a reserve fund if necessary.