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President Tsai Ing-wen said that she has instructed the relevant ministries to set permissible ractopamine residue levels for imported pork and ease restrictions on the import of beef from US cattle aged 30 months or older in accordance with scientific evidence and international standards.
President Tsai emphasized that the government, following comprehensive assessment, has concluded that further easing restrictions is a decision that promotes Taiwan-US relations, and satisfies food safety standards. The government, she said, will implement stringent safety controls, strengthen quarantine and inspection procedures for imported meat products, and implement food product labeling regulations.
"Of course, we know that we still have a way to go before negotiating and signing a trade agreement. But a precondition for negotiations is to rationally manage trade issues, and open up to other countries on a mutual basis, based on the same international standards," president Tsai stated.
The president explained that at one time there were reservations about importing pork with ractopamine, but that since then risk assessments have been done and enough data and scientific evidence has been reviewed to ensure that there is no health safety risk when ractopamine levels are below the limit set by Codex Alimentarius.
The president ensured that this decision would not harm domestic pig farmers. "Domestic pork has a 90% market share in Taiwan and is becoming increasingly competitive. However, we will still go ahead and establish a NT$10 billion 'Pig Farming Industry Fund' to ensure that pig farming livelihoods are not affected."
August 28, 2020/ Office of the President/ Republic of China (Taiwan)
https://english.president.gov.tw/
