Page 70 - Taiwan Food and Drug Administration 2016 Annual Report

Taiwan Food and Drug Adminstration

(b) Total Diet Study
In 2015, TFDA carried out the ?rst total diet study in Taiwan for residual veterinary drugs in food,
targeting production areas, post-marketing surveillance, and residual standards for 70 types of
veterinary drugs. TFDA also outlined a recognized list of residual veterinary drugs and implemented
a nation-wide hierarchical sampling to assess concentrations of residual veterinary drugs in 90 core
food items. These measurements were then combined with estimated exposure data and allowed
the completion of total diet study and risk assessments for residual veterinary drugs to estimate
veterinary drug exposure risks of three populations in the consumption of 90 core food items.
Results showed that risks for every single item are acceptable.
c. Reporting Unintended Reactions of Food Consumption
In 2008, TFDA established the National Reporting System for Unintended Reactions of Health
Food and Food in Capsule or Tablet Forms, allowing members of the public to report post-market
safety data of unintended reactions via the system. After members of TFDA Consultation Team
for Unintended Reactions of Health Food and Food in Capsule or Tablet Forms evaluate reported
cases and product safety, the Consultation Team will then immediately initiate relevant measures to
minimize potential hazards or contain the scope of the incident. From 2008 to 2015, TFDA received
a total of 173 reports of unintended reactions of health foods or food in capsule or tablet forms, and
monitored a total of 1,292 food safety alerts.
d. Monitoring International Food Safety Alerts
TFDA has assigned dedicated personnel to monitor international food recall alerts and publish
relevant information on a daily basis in order to provide businesses with a reference and help them
avoid importing products being recalled by the original manufacturer. In 2015, international alerts
were monitored to publish a total of 328 food consumer traffic light alerts on the Food and Drug
Consumer Service Network (http://consumer.fda.gov.tw/).
(2) Risk Assessment Mechanism and Controls
Hosting Expert Advisory Meetings to Evaluate and Propose Control Measures

a. Advisory Committee for Risk Assessments of Food Products
The Advisory Committee for Risk Assessments of Food Products is composed of experts and
academicians in food safety, toxicology, and risk assessment as well as representatives from non-
government organizations (NGOs). The Committee is responsible for conducting risk assessments
for food safety or relevant hazardous substances, formulate policies and strategies for risk
assessments, formulate risk assessment plans, expand or revise risk assessment guidelines,
implement risk assessments, and to carry out or promote other matters related to risk assessments.

b. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Expert Consulation Committee
In addition to import meat product reviews, imported beef and beef products are required to
conduct food safety risk assessments for the food safety risk derived from Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy (BSE) and the application will be reviewed by the BSE expert consulation
committee. BSE occurred countries which intend to export beef and beef products to Taiwan must
submit an application that includes information of epidemiological surveys and monitoring data of
BSE cases that have occurred in the country as well as preventive measures, risk assessments,
and other information for review. Other review procedures such as risk assessments and on-site
inspection are also conducted to ensure the food safety management system of the applicant
country before allowing the import of beef products, the risk communication will be concluded under
cross ministerial mechanism. A total of 2 BSE expert consultation meetings were convened in 2015.
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