By Joy Chang ,The China Post
October 4, 2014, 12:04 am TWN
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta (邱文達) announced at a press conference at 8 p.m. last night that he is resigning from his position to take responsibility for the waste oil scandal.
During Chiu's term of office, five major food controversies occurred, including plasticizers found in food products in 2011, the leanness-enhancing drug ractopamine found in U.S. beef in 2012, maleic acid-tainted starch in food products in 2013, copper chlorophyllin complex added to cooking oils and the current waste oil scandal.
The food scares prompted modifications to the Act Governing Food Sanitation in June 2011, August 2012 and June 2013. The act was amended and renamed the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation in February. The amendments include heavier sentences, increased fines and whistleblower rewards in cases of food safety violations. Furthermore, the act ensures that government officials will be able to better uncover the origins of food scares and inspect the credibility of food tests.
The waste oil scandal cited the fifth amendment to make sure that the manufacturer Chang Guann Co. (強冠) will be fined appropriately and that its owner will be imprisoned in line with the public's expectations.
Local media have speculated that Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's Kaohsiung Branch (高雄長庚紀念醫院) Superintendent Chen Chao-Long (陳肇隆) might be the next health minister. However, Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) did not comment on who the successor might be.
Since the waste oil scandal broke more than one month ago, the Executive Yuan finally dished out punishment last night. For example, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Yeh Ming-kung (葉明功) will be transferred from his position and succeeded by FDA Deputy Director-General Chiang Yu-mei (姜郁美).
Prosecutors had charged eight suspects, including the underground factory owner Kuo Lieh-cheng (郭烈成) and Chang Guann Chairman Yeh Wen-hsiang (葉文祥) over violations of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.
The 64-year-old Chiu assumed office in February 2011 and became the first minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW), after the Department of Health was upgraded to the MHW on July 23, 2013.
Chiu claimed that he had devoted his energy to serving the public as the health minister over the past three years. Chiu said that his accomplishments include passing the 2nd Generation National Health Insurance and establishing the new Ministry of Health and Welfare. After leaving his position, Chiu will return to working in the field of neurological research.
Chiu was the superintendent of Wan Fang Hospital (萬芳醫院) and the president of Taipei Medical University. Moreover, he was a neurosurgeon renowned for his skill in the operating room.
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