Taiwan's Zhonglian Oil manager detained over benzopyrene contamination

In May 2024, testing revealed benzopyrene levels far above the legal limit in oil produced by Zhonglian Oil. Plant manager Chen Ming‑rong was arrested and initially ordered to post a NT$1 million bail, face residence and travel restrictions, and was barred from communication. A higher court later lifted those restrictions, but prosecutors argued he knowingly failed to report the hazard and did not halt production despite being aware of the risk.

Taiwan Sugar Corp issued a five‑point statement saying it had refused the contaminated crude oil in May, performed third‑party testing that confirmed the excess, and that the rejected material never entered its processing facilities. The company asserted it had no legal duty to report the incident under the Food Safety and Health Management Act. The Food and Drug Administration and Kaohsiung City Health Bureau are investigating the case and assessing any public‑health impact.