應用區塊鏈科技提升臺灣的食品安全

由於全球化產生複雜的食品供應鏈，使得食品詐欺和食媒性疾病變得更難追溯原因；同時，全世界因經濟發展帶來的食品詐欺更是與日俱增。很不幸的，因為食品追溯的法規標準不一致，以及集中式追溯系統的弱點，都是造成食品可追溯性缺乏效果、效率及透明化的主要原因。所以，違反食品安全的事件猖獗不斷，造成消費者不相信政府，也不相信食品業者能夠改善食品安全。臺灣已經建置了食品追溯系統，但是層出不窮的食安事件，顯示臺灣的食品安全仍然存在著問題。近幾年來區塊鏈科技的快速發展，已證實可以強化食品追溯系統，並提升食品安全。本研究之目的為探討區塊鏈技術於食品可追溯性的應用、臺灣食安事件發生的原因，以及應用區塊鏈提升臺灣的食品安全時，需注意的法規及管理環境。在檢視過臺灣的食品追溯管理資訊系統之後，發現食品可追溯性非常缺乏透明化及效率，而且也欠缺追溯性的關鍵因素。之前並沒有研究指出食品追溯系統的缺失，該缺失可能是造成食品詐欺的主要原因。因為區塊鏈同時擁有高度透明及效率的優點，很適合應用於改善臺灣的食品追溯系統；為了符合現有的法規，本研究提出建置一個食品追溯法規的監理沙盒，以提供區塊鏈實驗的環境。政府在確認食品追溯系統的正確與否的問題上，扮演了關鍵的角色，並確保區塊鏈能提供正確有效的資訊。本研究建議：為了能夠有效的應用區塊鏈科技改善食品安全，需要仰賴政府部門、食品業者、法律專家、政策制定者以及區塊鏈科技業者的通力合作，才能確保成功。

關鍵字

臺灣；食品安全；可追溯性；區塊鏈

並列摘要

The world has seen an increase of economically-driven food fraud while complex food supply chains due to globalization worsens the traceability for food fraud and foodborne illnesses. Unfortunately, varying food traceability regulations, standards, and the generally weak and centralized traceability systems together contribute to lack of effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency in traceability. As a result, food safety incidents still run rampant, causing consumers to be unable to trust governments or the food industry to improve food safety. Food safety in Taiwan has been no better, with food fraud occurring on a regular basis even with food safety regulations and food traceability systems already in place. Among the apprehension regarding food safety, the application of blockchain technology in food traceability has recently emerged and already brings promising results that proves the feasibility of the application. This thesis therefore aims to study how blockchain technology can be applied in order to improve Taiwan’s food safety. The technology’s application in food traceability, the main reasons for Taiwan’s food safety incidents, and Taiwan’s regulatory environment for the application are all examined. Close inspection has found that Taiwan’s Food Traceability Management Information System is strongly lacking in transparency and efficiency, both key factors in traceability. These imperfections in the traceability system, which have not been identified before, may be the main contributors to the occurrences of food fraud. Hence, it is confirmed that blockchain technology, which provides both transparency and efficiency, has its definite benefits that will be able to improve Taiwan’s food traceability. In order to ensure the application’s compliance with regulations, the establishment of a food traceability regulatory sandbox for blockchain technology is proposed. The government will play a crucial role in validating the accuracy of the stored traceability information, which will ensure the effectiveness of traceability provided by the technology. Further recommendation indicates that the government, the food industry, law experts, policy-makers and blockchain service providers will all need to collaborate to determine the most effective measures to apply blockchain technology for the improvement of food safety.