An inspection report released by the Fisheries Agency yesterday found residue of leuco-malachite green — a potentially carcinogenic metabolite — in eels raised on a farm in Yunlin County that allegedly supplied eels to Minchuan International, whose canned roasted eels were last week found to contain the substance.
All six fish farms at the facility, owned by a Yunlin resident surnamed Hsieh (謝), were tested.
Eel samples from two farms tested positive for leuco-malachite green, with concentrations reaching 5.9 parts per billion (ppb), the agency said.
Agency official Miao Tzu-chang (謀自昌) said that leuco-malachite green is the primary metabolite of malachite green, which is an industrial dye and an antiprotozoal drug that has been banned in the nation’s fish-farming sector.
Transportation of all eels at the facility would be prohibited until the leuco-malachite green levels in the fish drop to below 0.5ppb, which would likely take two-and-a-half to three years, Miao said.
Eel netting is prohibited during this period and no transport vehicles are allowed to enter or leave the facility, he said, adding that the agency would closely monitor the facility for any breach.
Miao yesterday dismissed reports that said existing laws could force fish farmers to cull the eels, saying that leuco-malachite green, unlike avian influenza, does not spread and that culling is unnecessary.
Since this is the fish farm’s first violation, the agency asked the Yunlin County Government to impose a fine of NT$60,000, the minimum fine stipulated in Article 36 of the Veterinary Drugs Control Act (動物用藥品管理法), he said.
The facility would face a maximum fine of NT$300 million (US$9.75 million) if further inspections by local health authorities find that the tainted eels have made their way to the market, he said.
Asked how the farm is to cope with losses during the lockdown, Miao said that the proprietor would probably have to wait it out, adding that the eels in question are Japanese eels, which have a long life expectancy and would be market-ready after leuco-malachite green levels drop to legally permissible levels.
Alternatively, it could exterminate the fish on its own initiative and start over, but that would be the fish farm’s decision to make, Miao said.
Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital department of clinical toxicology director Yen Tsung-hai (顏宗海) said that both malachite green and leuco-malachite green are toxic and potentially carcinogenic to humans, adding that extensive exposure to the substances could induce thyroid gland or liver diseases.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS