1. Establishment of traceability system for agri-products

Implementation of food traceability system is ever gaining global attention. It is part of a safe food package to be competitive globally and to meet the consumers’ increasing demands. The COA, by emulating the practices in Europe Union and Japan, has established Taiwan agriculture and food traceability system. The purpose of such system is to strengthen the confidence of both domestic and global consumers in crop, fishery and livestock products from Taiwan. The system was incorporated into the New Agriculture Movement. The major achievements are as follows:

1) Expansion of Taiwan good agricultural practice (TGAP): Different TGAPs have been established for 75 commodities that cover crops, livestock and fisheries. To meet the consumers’ demand in both domestic and export markets, the list likely will be further expanded. In response to limited supply of recommended animal drugs and pesticides, a large-scale screening of 65 new animal drugs and pesticides was also conducted in 2005 and 2006.

2) Establishment of information management and traceability platform: The COA was successful in persuading 81 agricultural production and marketing groups to exercise TGAP and digitalize operation information. Moreover, the COA has constructed a website for Taiwan Agriculture and Food Traceability (TAFT) System (http://taft.coa.gov.tw ). The site provides the consumers a rapid access to the traceable records on the production and marketing of agri-products that have trace codes. Consumers, knowing where and how the agri-products are produced and how they are handled as well as by whom, will gain more confidence on these traceable agri-products.

3) Establishment of the candor third-party certification system: During 2006, the COA has put out guidelines and regulations on commissioning the certification of traceability, managing the traceability, and verifying the certification authorities. On top of these, the COA has commissioned Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (TAF) to manage the certification on traceability of agri-products. TAF has started to accept the applications from various organizations on 8 December 2006. It is expected that TAF will start to issue certificates on food traceability before June 2007. The above-mentioned efforts are to ensure Taiwan will be in par with the global trend on food traceability, and to gain public confidence on food traceability. Without questions, consumers stand to gain from this new certification scheme for safe foods.

2. Development of organic agriculture

Organic agriculture is regarded as one of the important approaches to agriculture and food production that is environmentally sustainable and can render several positive impacts to rural society in Taiwan. Henceforth, the COA has incorporated organic agriculture as one of the goals for the New Agriculture Movement, and set a target of two-time increase of organic agriculture in three years. In line with this, the COA was instrumental in creating supply chain for organic agri-products, and assisted several public and not-for-profit institutions to train the farmers and educate general public about organic agriculture. Moreover, MOA International (a.k.a. Mokichi Okada International Association) , Taiwan Organic Production Association (TOPA), Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF) and Taiwan Formosa Organic Association (TFOA) were authorized to issue the certification label and brand the logo on organic food products. By the end of 2006, 898 farms with a total of 1,708 hectares of land area were certified as organic farms for rice, vegetables, fruit trees, tea plants, and other crops. Consumers stand to gain from this new certification system for organic agri-products.

3. Strengthening of animal and plant health inspection and quarantine

1) In co-operation with the city and county governments, the COA has implemented vaccination programs on classical swine fever (CSF) and foot and mouth disease (FMD). As the end of 2006, the vaccination ratios for CSF and FMD have surpassed 90% and the diseases have been effectively prevented. On the other hand, Penghu Island without vaccination program showed a good result of no incident of FMD. Monitoring efforts have been taken and poultry and pig farms installed with net-wire to prevent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Measures also have been taken to control dog diseases. Integrated pest managements that employ pheromones and low-toxic pesticides were applied to control insect pests and plant diseases. Area-wide control measures of oriental fruit fly were taken, and emergency controls of red imported fire ants (RIFA) were implemented with good results. Apart from the aforementioned, s urveillances of major exotic animal diseases, and plant diseases and insect pests were routinely taken. The surveillance confirmed that Taiwan is free from rabies, bovine spongiform encephalopathies, HPAI, Mediterranean fruit fly, and codling moth.

2) As a result of striving for safe production and bilateral negotiations, Taiwan is currently exporting hatching eggs and day-old chickens to Japan, horses to Qatar, goose eggs to China, fresh fruits to Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Chile, and Phalaenopsis seedlings with growing media to the United States. To meet the quarantine requirement, the COA’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) is in charge of inspecting animals, plants and their products that proceed through the ports. During 2006, BAPHIQ has approved 0.36 million tons of exporting items and 14 million tons of importing items. In the same period, BAPHIQ has also intercepted 898 birds of all shapes and sizes, and 66 tons of animal products that were being smuggled to the country. BAPHIQ’s effort has ensured Taiwan is free of major infectious diseases.

3) To prevent exotic pests and diseases from entering Taiwan through animals and plants and their products carried by passengers and postal items, 16 detection beagle brigades have been deployed in international airports, international postal management centers, and Kinmen harbor to reinforce the interception of undeclared, importing animals, plants, and their products. During 2006, these detection dogs have intercepted about 39 tons of live insects, live plants, seeds, fresh fruits, and meat products. Subsequently, these intercepted items have been destroyed to effectively ensure Taiwan is free of exotic diseases and pests.