ニュース本文
By Central News Agency reporter Chen Chun-hua, Taipei, 14thDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Chen Pei-yu stated that food safety has never been solely the responsibility of the central government, and local authorities on the front lines also bear corresponding duties. Premier Zhuo Rongtai said today that local governments should enforce frontline inspections of illegal food products, and whether they have carried out 'on-site factory inspections' will be a key basis for future administrative and judicial investigations.This afternoon, the Legislative Yuan invited Premier Zhuo Rongtai and heads of relevant agencies to deliver a special report titled 'Chung Lien Oils Soybean Salad Oil Incident and Review of Food Safety Regulatory Mechanism Deficiencies,' followed by questioning.During questioning, DPP legislator Chen Pei-yu pointed out that no manufacturer has apologized to the public since the incident occurred. Despite knowing their products were problematic, companies concealed the facts. The Food Safety Act clearly defines the responsibilities of both central and local authorities, and 'food safety has never been solely the central government’s responsibility.' Local authorities, being on the front lines, inherently have responsibilities and obligations. She asked how central and local responsibilities are divided in this case.In response, Zhuo Rongtai explained that according to the Food Safety Act, the central competent authority is the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), while local competent authorities are municipal and county governments. Local governments are primarily responsible for frontline enforcement of inspections and penalties for illegal food products, including on-site inspections, sampling, and testing.Zhuo emphasized that Article 41 of the Food Safety Act requires local authorities to enter food factories, restaurants, retail outlets, and night market stalls for on-site inspections. Whether 'on-site factory inspections' were actually conducted, he stated, 'I believe this will be a key basis for future administrative and judicial investigations.'Chen Pei-yu criticized media reports that place all blame on the central government. She noted that on July 1, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a report and immediately coordinated with Taichung City Government for an inspection—demonstrating that the central government fulfilled its duties. The core issue, she argued, is that prior to this, local authorities failed to conduct inspections or even recognize it as their responsibility. If local governments believe they can pass responsibilities to the Executive Yuan or MOHW, it reflects a dangerous bureaucratic mindset.Prior to the special report, Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislators occupied the podium, blocking Zhuo from delivering his report. Chen criticized this, stating that during last Thursday’s negotiation, despite an approaching typhoon, the TPP demanded the Executive Yuan appear the next day—a request she called 'ridiculous.' Fortunately, Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu remained clear-headed and reminded them to allow the Executive Yuan to focus on typhoon preparedness. She accused the 'Blue-White' coalition (KMT and TPP) of only pretending to care about food safety while obstructing the report, calling it a rush for political performance.Zhuo stated that his purpose in testifying before the legislature was to present the truth. He expressed gratitude for being given sufficient time to speak, thanking the Legislative Yuan for the arrangement. On Friday, he also sent a written message thanking Han Kuo-yu for the procedural consideration, which allowed him time to assess typhoon damage across regions. Such arrangements, he said, help strengthen public confidence in the government. (Edited by Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150714