To support Taiwan’s waterware industry in entering the medium- and high-end sanitary ware market and to elevate industry’s product values, the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is coordinating joint efforts by MOEA’s Bureau of Standards, Metrology & Inspection (BSMI), and the Plumbing Association of Taiwan to promote the addition of testing standards for waterware-released toxic substances to the CNS (Chinese National Standards). The quality standards for faucets made in Taiwan are expected to be in line with those of NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) and on par with those in the global sanitary ware market.
Developed countries around the world have become increasingly stringent for faucets to be eco-friendly and providing safe drinking water. They have largely followed NSF regulations. In addition, NSF regulations governing faucets are taken as a reference by countries such as the US and Canada (Taiwan’s biggest export markets), as well as Mainland China and Indonesia (Taiwan’s biggest competitors in international trade). Given that regulations to be followed by all involved will be the final trade barrier after tariffs are reduced or eliminated between the North American market and the ASENA, IDB has invited BSMI, the Plumbing Association of Taiwan, and industry representatives to partake in discussions on the CNS 8088 “faucets, ball taps, and flush valves” with the aforementioned Plumbing Association’s sanitary ware certification mechanism as a reference. The discussions aim to achieve a consensus on amending CNS 8088 to be in line with NSF’s regulations, which will facilitate BSMI’s future regulatory harmonization process.