To deepen local awareness of integrity and strengthen food safety management, Chief Prosecutor Chiang Chin-hsing of the Chiayi District Prosecutors Office delivered a keynote presentation yesterday (June 26) during a seminar hosted by the Chiayi City Health Bureau. Titled "Distinguishing Profiteering from Lawful Assistance: A Food Safety Perspective," the initiative aimed to use legal education to help health bureau staff and local food and drug businesses precisely clarify the boundaries between illicit profiteering and lawful public assistance. This collaborative effort highlights the prosecutors' office and local authorities' commitment to boosting community integrity and creating a win-win scenario for both the public and private sectors.

Chief Prosecutor Chiang began by drawing a clear legal line between "profiteering" and "lawful assistance," deconstructing the legal definition of a public servant. He emphasized that the Supreme Court has issued clear rulings on "substantial influence," noting that even if lobbying or pressuring occurs outside of official chambers, leveraging one's position to influence public affairs can still constitute a legal violation.

Addressing the operational risks that businesses care about most, Chiang explained that violating food safety regulations now carries a triple legal burden: administrative fines, heavy criminal penalties, and punitive civil damages. Such consequences are severe enough to bankrupt a company overnight. He cited major past cases involving substandard cooking oil, such as Chang Guann and Ting Hsin, to warn of the vital importance of honest operations. Furthermore, he strictly reminded attendees that food advertisements must absolutely not claim medical efficacy. Regulators will evaluate advertisements based on their overall visual context and presentation; any promotional material that hints at or implies medical statistics will face severe penalties, and businesses should not gamble with the law.

With upcoming elections approaching, Chief Prosecutor Chiang also called upon the public and manufacturers to help maintain clean election practices, emphasizing that any exchange of benefits—including meals, gifts, or travel—could constitute vote-buying. The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office stated that it will continue to work across agencies to promote corporate integrity and anti-bribery campaigns, joining hands with all sectors to build a fair and corruption-free society.