Taiwan to Revise Hygiene Standards for Alcoholic Products

Takehome:

• The limitation of hygiene items in different categories of alcoholic products have been revised in Taiwan, including the content of methyl alcohol, benzoic acid, hexadienic acid, etc.

On Jul. 20, 2016, the Ministry of Finance of Taiwan (MOF) announced the revision of “Hygiene Standard for Alcoholic Products”, which is open for public consultation for 60 days since this announcement was made.

The “Hygiene Standard for Alcoholic Products” was last amended in Sep. 2013, which stipulates the limitations of hygiene items (including methyl alcohol, lead, coloring materials as well as other food additives) in different categories of alcoholic products.

The current revision of the regulation mainly includes:

• The content of methyl alcohol in wine per liter has been revised from 2,000 mg to 3,000 mg (as 100% ethyl alcohol) at the maximum.
• The requirement for the content of methyl alcohol in distilled liquor made of sweet potato has been added, which should be less than 2,000 mg per liter.
• The benzoic acid residue in each liter of alcoholic products has been revised from 15% to 18%.
• Other alcoholic products for consumption purpose shall not contain any hexadienic acid and benzoic acid, unless it is proved that they are generated naturally during the production, naturally exist in or carried over from the raw materials, and its residue does not exceed the stipulated upper limit.

Reference link

Taiwan MOF Notification