Taipei, Feb. 10 (CNA) Exporters of certain beverages and food items in Taiwan will no longer be required by Singapore from March 1 to provide official certification that their products are plasticizer-free, the Cabinet-level Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

Following China's decision on Jan. 5, Singapore will exempt Taiwan firms from providing certification for five categories of exports: sports drinks, juices, tea drinks, fruit jams or syrups, and tablets or powders, the DOH's Food and Drug Administration said.

Singapore and China were among a few countries in the region, including Hong Kong and South Korea, that required Taiwan last year to provide plasticizer-free certifications in the five categories, after it was reported in May that some locally produced items -- mainly soft drinks -- were tainted by industrial plasticizers.

The scandal, which involved unscrupulous manufacturers adding toxic plasticizers into clouding agents -- common additives used in food and beverage production to cut down costs -- triggered public panic over food safety.

In response, the relevant authorities in Taiwan took immediate action to crack down on the illegal practice of adding plasticizers to clouding agents nationwide.

South Korea and Hong Kong lifted their restrictions on Taiwan last year, the DOH said.