Division Chief Lin of Taichung City Government Consumer Protection coordinated with staff from Department of Economic Development, Department of Health, Fire Bureau, and Taichung Branch Office of Bureau of Standard, Metrology, and Inspection, MOEA in the afternoon of Jan. 22nd to hold a joint inspection in ChiKong New Year Stuff Market. Officers of the Department of Health brought Brown Sugar Candy and Fish Slices, without clear labels regarding ingredients, back to the office for further inspection. One business, which had their electronic scale over the standard error limit, was warmed and issued a ‘do not use’ sticker. 

According to inspectors from the Department of Health, all businesses were cooperative, and only 4 pieces of product were carried back for further inspection, such as incorrectly marked brown sugar candy, long expired fish slices, and unmarked grey mullet eggs. One pack of fish pasty, which lacked a manufacture date and had incorrectly marked nutrition, was issued with citation ticket that would be transferred to the manufacturer in Kaohsung for a fine of 30 to 150 thousand dollars.

According to Chief Lin, overall, the performance of businesses in ChiKong New Year Stuff Market has improved this year. It is noteworthy that the market administration committee set up 2 Fair scales on the crossing between ChiKong Street and Chungcheng Road, this year, to benefit consumers who have doubts about the weight of items that they bought.

Taichung Branch Office of Bureau of Standard, Metrology, and Inspection, MOEA checked the electronic scales of businesses, and found out that only one shop had a scale which showed 3.035 kilograms when using a 3 kilogram weight. The shop was warned and issued with a ‘do not use’ sticker for the over the regulated standard error mistake. Chief Lin pointed out that the City Government set a higher standard this year, and there were less law violations, mostly misdemeanors, due to the administration committee’s proper promulgations about regulations and policies. This year the market is obviously much cleaner and neater than last year.