Imported Asparagus and Cheese Intercepted at Border for Exceeding Pesticide and E. coli Standards
On April 14, 2026, Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) announced that two batches of asparagus from Thailand were found to contain propamocarb pesticide residues exceeding the legal limit of 0.01 ppm, and one batch of cheese from Italy exceeded E. coli limits. All non-compliant products must be returned or destroyed. The involved importers will face stricter border inspection measures. TFDA data shows a 0.6% non-compliance rate for Thai green asparagus between October 6, 2025, and April 6, 2026, leading to intensified sampling inspections for this product until May 13, 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 12:23
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 12:31 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 13:20 (49 min after Collected)
On April 14, 2026, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) released its latest list of non-compliant border inspections. Among the 10 problematic items, two batches of asparagus imported from Thailand by an unspecified company were found to have propamocarb pesticide residues of 0.02 ppm, exceeding the "Pesticide Residue Limits Standard" of 0.01 ppm. A total of 730 kg of asparagus will be either returned or destroyed. Due to repeated non-compliance, this importer will be subject to 100% batch-by-batch inspections. Additionally, one batch of cheese imported from Italy by another unspecified company tested positive for E. coli, with most probable numbers (MPN) ranging from 23 to 93 per gram, violating the "Microbiological Hygiene Standard for Foods." This cheese must also be returned or destroyed, and its importer will face enhanced batch-by-batch inspections at a 20-50% sampling rate. According to TFDA statistics, from October 6, 2025, to April 6, 2026, 1057 batches of green asparagus from Thailand were declared for inspection, with 6 batches failing due to pesticide residues, resulting in a 0.6% non-compliance rate. Consequently, TFDA is implementing strengthened sampling inspections for Thai green asparagus, with a 20-50% sampling rate, from February 3, 2026, to May 13, 2026.