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Updated Saturday, February 19, 2011 11:18 pm TWN, AFP

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Taiwan rejects the US warning on restrictions

TAIPEI -- Taiwan said yesterday it will not give up restrictions it imposes on imported beef, after a warning by U.S. lawmakers that the issue could cripple free trade talks.

Taiwan pulled shipments of U.S. beef from store shelves last month after they were found to contain a drug, Paylean, used to promote leanness in animals raised for meat.

“The restrictions are in place in accordance with the laws to protect public health and they are not aimed at the U.S. We will continue to enforce the regulations,” said Wang Jet-chau, a spokesman for the health department.

Taiwan, China and the European Union restrict Paylean because of possible human health risks associated with the ingredient ractopamine, but 26 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Brazil, have declared the product safe.

Top U.S. lawmakers on Thursday urged Taiwan to roll back what they branded unscientific restrictions on U.S. beef exports and warned of “serious negative consequences” for bilateral trade.

Beef exports from the United States — Taiwan's main source — “have ground to a halt,” the lawmakers said, warning that “Taiwan's scientifically unjustified policy” was also hurting sales of U.S. pork.

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Comments

February 19, 2011 jimmytswang@

Let's give 3 cheers to the Taiwan's Health Ministry!!!

Finally, the government in Taiwan is standing up for its people!!!

February 19, 2011 mtsai16@

The customer is never wrong.

February 24, 2011 elumpen@

Ractopamine is banned in virtually every nation on the planet; only a few backward countries actually allow it because there is overwhelming evidence that it causes damage to the environment, to the pigs/cattle, and to people. It doesn't even benefit farmers, creating an 'arms race' between meat producers which makes it impossible for drug-free meat to compete in the market.

That the US should resort to outright lies to push their substandard product ("scientifically unjustified" policies?) is a disgrace; and well done to the Health Ministry for not allowing the US to ride roughshod over national laws.

March 9, 2011 ludahai_twn@

European countries and developing countries routinely place bans on chemicals and GMO foods or put other restrictions in place to protect their own domestic livestock industries, NOT because they are unsafe. WHO guidelines actually allows for a small residual trace amounts to be safe.

I would much prefer the Health Minister expend its resources tackling pesticide levels in Taiwanese produce (much more harmful than any Paylean in meat imports) or actually put in place effective policies and education to educate people about the viruses that have besieged the country over the past month.