國立臺灣大學

                                                                                          January 28, 2021 [Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan]
To protect the health of the public who are sensitive to favism (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), the Environmental Protection Administration has announced that starting from February 1st, over 46,000 public restrooms nationwide are prohibited from using naphthalene balls. Local environmental protection units are required to strengthen inspections. If naphthalene balls are found to be used in public restrooms, the management unit will be requested to improve within 7 days. Failure to do so will result in an immediate downgrade in the restroom's rating, and this information will be disclosed on the Environmental Protection Administration's website until improvements are made.
In light of the "72nd Collaboration Meeting of Open Government in July 2020" held by the Executive Yuan, an inter-agency discussion pointed out that the incidence of favism among the Taiwanese population is approximately 1.61%, with an estimated 100,000 patients in Taiwan in need of constant vigilance against potential hazards in their surroundings. In response to this issue, on December 7th, 2020, the Environmental Protection Administration convened discussions with central government agencies and local governments. The Environmental Protection Administration stated that naphthalene balls are primarily used for pest control and are not essential for restroom cleaning and maintenance. Furthermore, there are alternative products on the market that do not contain naphthalene, such as dichlorobenzene, bipin, paradichlorobenzene, picaridin, and natural essential oils (such as natural camphor and lemongrass) available for selection. After consultation with relevant agencies and local governments, it was decided to prioritize the avoidance of naphthalene ball products in public restrooms under its jurisdiction to safeguard public health.
The Environmental Protection Administration also reminds that naphthalene is a substance that individuals sensitive to favism should avoid, as it can pose risks to their health. The Environmental Protection Administration has held meetings with relevant manufacturers and, as of January 1st, 2021, they have required naphthalene ball products to display a warning message "Not for people with favism" and this text must not be smaller than 0.5 cm. The Environmental Protection Administration reiterates the importance for restroom management units in transportation hubs, tourist areas, scenic spots, government agencies, parks, gas stations, and convenience stores, which are daily places of use by the public, to prevent potential harm to individuals sensitive to favism from unknowingly coming into contact with naphthalene balls when using restrooms. It urges them to strengthen independent management and avoid using naphthalene balls, emphasizing the shared responsibility of public and private entities for the maintenance of public health.