U.S. Oysters and Avocados Face Border Hurdles in Taiwan Over Heavy Metal Concerns

Increased Cadmium Levels Prompt Stricter Import Regulations

Taipei, Taiwan - April 29th. Taiwanese authorities have flagged several shipments of oysters and avocados imported from the United States due to elevated levels of the heavy metal cadmium, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) announced recently.

During the TFDA's weekly briefing, it was revealed that three U.S. shipments failed inspection this week. This included 405 kilograms of Pacific oysters and a substantial 3,796.8 kilograms of avocados, imported by two separate companies.

According to TFDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富), the oysters, imported by Jing Yuan International Trading Co., were found to contain 2 parts per million (ppm) of cadmium. This significantly exceeds the permissible limit of 1 ppm for oysters, as established by Taiwanese regulations.

In response to this violation, the TFDA will implement stricter inspection protocols for Jing Yuan International Trading Co. The sampling rate will be increased from the standard 2-10 percent to a more rigorous 20-50 percent, according to Lin.

Furthermore, Chiawei Enterprise Co. and Ourmart Marketing Co. faced similar challenges, with their imported avocado shipments being affected. Chiawei Enterprise Co. and Ourmart Marketing Co. each imported 2,531.2 kilograms and 1,265.6 kilograms of substandard avocados, respectively. These shipments exhibited cadmium levels ranging from 0.08 to 0.12 ppm, notably higher than the permissible Taiwanese limit of 0.05 ppm.

Consequently, the TFDA will also increase the inspection rate for both avocado importers to a range of 20-50 percent, Lin confirmed.

The TFDA clarified that all non-compliant products were either returned to their country of origin or destroyed at the border, ensuring they did not enter the local market and potentially impact Taiwanese consumers.