With the COVID-19 pandemic situation currently stable in Taiwan, food tasting is set to return to some supermarkets from Thursday, while makeup and skincare sampling at department stores will also be allowed again, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The handing out of free samples of food, makeup and skincare products was halted at retail outlets nationwide in July after the number of local COVID-19 infections rose sharply.

However, with the domestic outbreak under control, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has issued new guidelines that will allow free samples to be offered again at stores, CECC Emergency Response Group Deputy Division Director Lo Yi-chun (???) said at a press briefing Wednesday.

The guidelines, written in Chinese, was posted on the MOEA's website Tuesday, he added.

Supermarket chain Carrefour said Wednesday that it will begin offering free samples at its outlets from Thursday in line with central and local government regulations.

However, the service will be restricted to certain specific sampling locations in its stores and consumers will be required to wear masks immediately after tasting food.

Shoppers will also be prohibited from eating anywhere else in the store, Carrefour said.

Food sampling is usually conducted in its stores after 6 p.m. on weekdays and from noon on holidays, Carrefour said.

Fellow supermarket chain a.mart said it was still making preparations for bringing back samples, but said it hopes to resume the service from Thursday at the earliest.

Two other supermarket chains, Costco and Pxmart, said they were still assessing whether or not to begin offering samples, and, if so, when to do so.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel