Singapore has announced that it will lift restrictions placed on food products from Taiwan starting March 1, according to the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The restrictions were imposed last year after Taiwan revealed that many types of food products from Taiwan were contaminated with industrial plasticizers.
In the wake of the discovery, Singapore prohibited five types of food products from Taiwan—sports drinks, juices, teas, syrups and jams, and tablets and powders—from being imported.
But after learning of the efforts that Taiwan has undertaken to ensure food safety, authorities in Singapore have agreed to rescind the ban, the BOFT said Feb. 9.
“Reasons that led the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore to make its decision include the completion of Taiwan’s investigation of the case, the destruction of all tainted products and proof that random product samples are free of plasticizer contaminations,” said the BOFT.
“Since the food scandal broke last May, exports of Taiwan food products to Hong Kong, mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea have faced barriers, insofar as safety certificates were required,” the bureau said, adding the monthly growth rates dropped since the measures were imposed.
South Korea, Hong Kong and mainland China have all rescinded the restrictions placed on Taiwanese food products. In making its announcement Singapore became the fourth nation or territory to do so.
Malaysia had announced earlier that it would consider lifting its restrictions, if an inspection conducted before Feb. 4 showed that Taiwanese food products are free from industrial plasticizer. (HZW)
Write to Grace Kuo at morningk@mail.gio.gov.tw