ID :
23712
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 16:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23712
The shortlink copeid
(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Oct. 10) Sickening agency
The Korea Food and Drug Administration???s moral hazard is acute. It was only a few days ago that the nation was shocked by the inadequate inspections of private companies commissioned to conduct food safety checkups. Fueling the fear, lawmakers unveiled yesterday significant evidence that the agency's management system is in serious trouble.
We are speechless that the agency knew about the risks from melamine, the harmful
chemical that prompted the global scandal about toxic Chinese dairy products, but
did nothing about it.
The European Union warned the agency in June about the risk of toxic food, saying
that pork shipments exported to Korea were contaminated. Yet the agency didn't
recall the meat. The agency said, in its defense, that the melamine case was a
mistake. However, it is clear the agency has been derelict in its duty because
its role is directly connected to people's health.
More seriously, some of the practices of agency officials revealed at yesterday's
National Assembly inspection are undeniably crimes. The officials took bribes
from food companies in return for inappropriate labeling of questionable food
imports. Yet the agency didn't bother to inform the prosecution about its
employees' wrongdoings. The agency did not care about the people's safety. It was
only concerned about protecting its staff.
Allowing such an office to be in charge of the nation's food safety is like
allowing a cat to run a fish market. Taking into account the importance of food
safety, the government has planned to consolidate complex inspection systems into
the agency. We wonder if the agency is competent enough to take on such an
important task.
The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, which oversees the agency,
should also be held accountable. Though belated, a thorough investigation should
take place.
What's more, the Board of Audit and Inspection should plan a special sweeping
audit on the nation's food safety management system. The audit board should
conduct a scientific analysis and propose a "control tower" that should be fully
in charge of national food safety management. This would be a great example of
good governance.
It is never enough to emphasize the importance of food safety. Reform of the
agency is imperative.
(END)
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We are speechless that the agency knew about the risks from melamine, the harmful
chemical that prompted the global scandal about toxic Chinese dairy products, but
did nothing about it.
The European Union warned the agency in June about the risk of toxic food, saying
that pork shipments exported to Korea were contaminated. Yet the agency didn't
recall the meat. The agency said, in its defense, that the melamine case was a
mistake. However, it is clear the agency has been derelict in its duty because
its role is directly connected to people's health.
More seriously, some of the practices of agency officials revealed at yesterday's
National Assembly inspection are undeniably crimes. The officials took bribes
from food companies in return for inappropriate labeling of questionable food
imports. Yet the agency didn't bother to inform the prosecution about its
employees' wrongdoings. The agency did not care about the people's safety. It was
only concerned about protecting its staff.
Allowing such an office to be in charge of the nation's food safety is like
allowing a cat to run a fish market. Taking into account the importance of food
safety, the government has planned to consolidate complex inspection systems into
the agency. We wonder if the agency is competent enough to take on such an
important task.
The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, which oversees the agency,
should also be held accountable. Though belated, a thorough investigation should
take place.
What's more, the Board of Audit and Inspection should plan a special sweeping
audit on the nation's food safety management system. The audit board should
conduct a scientific analysis and propose a "control tower" that should be fully
in charge of national food safety management. This would be a great example of
good governance.
It is never enough to emphasize the importance of food safety. Reform of the
agency is imperative.
(END)
Download this as a file
