Source: All Taipei Newspapers

 

October 6, 2014

 

In a press conference held on October 3, Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Wen-ta (邱文達) announced his resignation to the public.  When asked by the media, Chiu stated that he had intended to tender his resignation last year when Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Company (大統長基) was found to have used copper cholorophylia, an illegal coloring agent for cooking oil, in its olive oil and adulterated its high-end cooking oil with cheaper cottonseed oil.  Chiu added “I have labored on long enough.”

 

Chiu sincerely apologized for the unease the oil scare caused the public during his three-year and eight-month tenure.  Chiu also thanked everyone in the Ministry of Health and Welfare for their support.

 

Chiu went on to say that now that he had tendered his resignation, he felt at ease, stressing that he had earlier stated he would take full political responsibility for public concerns about food safety during his tenure.  Chiu concluded by saying that he was keeping his promises, having completed his job.