Taiwan strengthens milk naming rules

Taipei, June 26 (CNA) Only certified domestic dairy products will be allowed to have "fresh milk" in their Chinese names from July 1, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has announced.

In Taiwan, "fresh milk" is defined as domestically produced pasteurized milk with a shelf life of less than 14 days that meets Taiwan Fresh Milk Label, Certified Agricultural Standards (CAS), and Traceable Agricultural Product (TAP) standards.

Under the new rules, sellers of imported liquid milk using the term "fresh milk" in their product's Chinese name after July 1 could face fines of up to NT$4 million (US$133,777), the MOA said.

The ministry added that the change will help consumers better distinguish between domestically produced and imported milk.

Beginning in July, certified "fresh milk" products will carry a Taiwan Fresh Milk logo directly on their packaging, replacing the previous practice of using stickers.

However, businesses may continue using previously distributed unused stickers, the ministry said.

The MOA said an estimated 330 companies and 13,000 retail outlets will be covered under the new system.