The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would this week fine a company for importing raw materials for cosmetics containing banned Sudan red dyes, and it would consider including Sudan red dyes in postmarket inspections, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said yesterday.
Eho Co, the company that was found having imported ingredients for cosmetics containing the banned industrial red dye, would face a NT$5 million (US$159,489) fine, the FDA said on Tuesday.
Taiwan recently detected the banned dyes in cosmetics for the first time, tracing them to raw materials supplied by Singapore-based Campo Research Pte Ltd.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
So far, 20 products from 12 businesses have been found to contain the dyes and must be removed from the market.
The FDA previously announced 18 contaminated products, and on Tuesday announced two more, both masks from Maxgut Biochemical Co.
Under articles 6 and 22 of the Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act (化妝品衛生安全管理法), using banned Sudan IV dyes can result in fines ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$5 million and repeated penalties may be imposed, the FDA said.
FDA Deputy Director-General Wang Der-yuan (王德原) said he cannot guarantee there are no other contaminated products, as the factory produces a wide range of items, and health departments can only inspect them one at a time.
To avoid similar incidents, the FDA is considering including Sudan red dyes in postmarket inspections, Shih said yesterday at the Legislative Yuan.
The FDA took the initiative to investigate after receiving a report from abroad, Shih said.
Preventing similar incidents would require support from the central government, as there is a lack of testing technology, the minister said.
Testing of raw materials for cosmetics requires careful consideration, as cosmetic regulations are largely similar across the globe, he said.
Cosmetics use a wide variety of chemicals, not all of which are used exclusively for cosmetics, so most countries focus on process management rather than testing every chemical, he added.
Like most countries, Taiwan has regulations regarding permitted and prohibited raw materials, manufacturing practice standards and helps businesses strengthen process control, Shih said.
The government is considering how to strengthen postmarket monitoring, and Sudan dyes would be included in routine inspections for the foreseeable future, he said.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
RSS