Taiwan BLOCKS U.S. Avocados – Why?

Taiwan is sharpening its focus on food safety by tightening restrictions on avocado imports due to cadmium contamination.

At a Glance

• Taiwan intercepted several batches of U.S. avocados due to high cadmium levels.
• The FDA found three out of eight shipments noncompliant.
• 3,796.8 kg of avocados from specific companies were affected.
• The FDA plans to tighten inspections, increasing sampling rates to 20-50%.

Heightened Food Safety Measures

Taiwan recently made a significant move to enhance food safety by tightening its avocado import restrictions. This decision came after authorities detected excessive cadmium levels in several shipments. The Taiwanese FDA intercepted 3,796.8 kilograms of noncompliant avocados from Chiawei Enterprise Co. and Ourmart Marketing Co., failing to meet the permissible cadmium level of 0.05 ppm.

To prevent recurrence of such safety issues, Taiwan’s FDA plans harsher inspection measures. The agency will increase sampling inspections to scrutinize between 20 to 50 percent of future avocado imports from these companies. Taiwan aims to block any nonconforming products from entering its market, ensuring consumer safety remains uncompromised.

Action Taken Against Noncompliance

In response to the discovery of excess cadmium, the FDA prescribed the return or destruction of offending avocados, preventing their entry into Taiwan’s domestic market. “The FDA said all noncompliant products were either returned to their country of origin or destroyed at the border and did not enter the local market.” – FDA.

The emphasis on rigorous safety standards demonstrates Taiwan’s dedication to safeguarding consumer health. Given the substantial trade value of fresh fruits between the United States and Taiwan, the importance of quality control in these exports cannot be overstated.

Future Prevention Strategies

As Taiwan strengthens avocado import restrictions, Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu stated an inspection rate increase to 20 to 50 percent for avocado importers. This move is a precautionary measure to ensure the safe consumption of products imported from the United States.

“FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu informed that the inspection rate for avocado importers will be raised to 20 to 50 percent.” – FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu.

Such measures are not just regulatory steps; they are necessary to protect Taiwanese consumers from the dangers of heavy metal contamination and to maintain strong trade relations with one of their largest fresh fruit suppliers, the United States.