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2. Strengthening Local Testing Capability and Quality
Local testing efficiency and quality were improved through integrating testing resources, providing
subsidies to local health bureaus, and conducting supervision and performance assessments in order
to establish a comprehensive national food safety laboratory network.
(1) Subsidizing Instruments and Equipment and Strengthening Testing Network Capabilities
Subsidies have been provided to various health bureaus in procuring high-precision instruments and
standard samples. Test resources and special regional requirements of each local health agency
were referenced in order to establish testing specializations in the northern, central, southern, and
municipal regions as part of the
Joint Testing Division System for Health Bureaus
, helping to improve the
specialization of test categories of each health bureau as well as testing efficiency and quality.
(2) Outcomes of Joint Regional Division
According to the
Central and Regional Specialization of Food Hygiene Tests
, independent testing ratio
in local health bureaus was about 35% prior to the subsidies. After subsidies, independent testing
capability rose to an average of 75%. Since 2013, additional
independent testing capabilities
have also
been expanded in 2014 for pesticides (from 252 items to 311 items), animal medication (from 119 items
to 122 items), and pharmaceutical adulterants in food products (from 135 items to 214 items).
(3) Laboratory Accreditation
To ensure the testing quality of local health bureaus, a total of 21 health bureau laboratories and 626
tests were accredited by the TFDA laboratory accreditation system by the end of 2014.
Section 3 Comprehensive Private Laboratory Accreditation and
Management System
Current Status
To effectively utilize testing resources of private laboratories, to ensure the quality and credibility of
commissioned tests, and to expand testing capacity, the TFDA offers free accreditation services for
private laboratories. Currently, the scope of laboratory accreditation conducted by TFDA includes food,
drugs and cosmetics, urine tests for drug abuse, and GLP for non-clinical studies. As of the end of
2014, a total of 154 labs was accredited around the country (122 private labs and 32 public labs), of
which 61 were food testing laboratories, 30 were drugs and cosmetics laboratories, 14 were drug abuse
urine testing laboratories, and 17 were GLP (Figures 8-5 and 8-6). Regionally, there are 86, 25, and 43
accredited laboratories in northern, central, and southern Taiwan respectively. A total of 1,211 tests items
have been accredited as well, of which 655 were food product tests, 488 were drugs and cosmetics
tests, 9 were drug abuse urine tests and 56 were for GLP tests (Figure 8-7). These accreditations
ensured that there are sufficient laboratories with the necessary testing capability and reliability to meet
emergency testing requirements.