Page 83 - Taiwan Food and Drug Administration 2016 Annual Report

2016 ANNUAL
REPORT

5. Key Results of Food and Drugs Testing Technology in 2015
Rapid advancements of process and technologies in food and medicinal products in recent
years have led to a drastic increase in the number of specimens to be tested. To effectively
safeguard food and medicinal products safety, TFDA actively developed and established new
methods. The scope of these development projects includes food chemistry and food biology
, biological products, quality of Chinese medicine and medicinal products, medical devices,
cosmetics, and speci?cations for innovative testing techniques.

Section 2. Strengthening the Testing Capability of National and
Local Laboratories Part II - Key Administrative Results National Laboratory and Testing Network

Current Status
TFDA actively develop rapid and accurate testing methods in order to clarify the beginning
and end of contingencies, propose response strategies, and use press releases and media
broadcasts and presentations to eliminate public confusion and concerns. TFDA continuously
enhance instrument, equipment testing techniques and strengthen laboratory quality assurance to
obtain accreditation and international recognition.

Policies and Outcomes
1. Strengthening the Testing Capacity of the National Laboratory
(1) TFDA organized a series of courses such as Identification of Unknown Materials. Course
contents included applications of chromatography / mass spectrometry techniques in food
testing, organic spectroscopy techniques and applications, and applied analytical techniques
for identifying adulterants in honey and its processed products. TFDA also acquired modern
equipment and instruments such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and
two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC by GC) coupled with quadruple time-of-?ight mass
spectrometer (TOF MS) to develop new analysis methods and stipulate technical documents
for public use.

(2) TFDA organized large scale international conferences such as the 2015 APEC Conference on
Management and Related Scienti?c Detection of Food Additives in Foods and International Conference
on Illegal Drugs in addition to over 10 national conferences or expert meetings to exchange and
share technical experiences and establish channels of communication and collaboration.

2. Project Testing
(1) Electronic cigarettes are currently an illegal product in Taiwan but have begun spreading
amongst users. To safeguard public health, TFDA carried out tests of specimens submitted
by local health bureaus, prosecutor's offices, police departments, and the Customs
Administration. The number of specimens received from the Customs Administration in 2015
was a 30-fold increase compared to 2014. From 2013 to 2015, nicotine content was found in
66% of the specimens (Figure 2-7-2). The specimens that contain nicotine were transferred to
the original authority for subsequent handling.

(2) TFDA submitted an official request to 11 local health bureaus such as New Taipei City on
June 29, 2015 to sample and test cosmetics used for cleansing properties from hotels, tourist
housing, or food service businesses found near reservoirs under their jurisdiction. The tests
carried out were used to identify nonylphenol and nonylphenol polyethoxylates. 34 specimens
were found to comply with the regulations.
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