The number two man at the Council of Agriculture said yesterday that while the dairy market will be more open after Taiwan enters the WTO, the price of fresh milk is not expected to drop significantly.
Chen said that fresh milk will be Taiwan's most competitive dairy product after WTO entry as foreign firms would it find it too expensive to import in.
"Since fresh milk can only be kept fresh for seven days, it is not cost efficient for foreign companies to import it to Taiwan," said Chen Wu-hsiung (陳武雄), vice chairman of the council. Because of that fact, Chen said, "it is the only product that domestic dairy farmers can count on" after Taiwan's accession.
Chen made the comments at a promotional event yesterday meant to encourage local consumers to drink more milk. However, changing Taiwanese dairy consumption habits may take some doing.
"People in Taiwan always drink milk like a soft drink and not with meals, and fewer people drink milk in winter," said Cheng Chung-chiang (程中江), executive manager at the Council. "That's why the price of fresh milk in winter, at about NT$14 per kilo, is lower than it is in summer, when it costs around NT$22 per kilo."
According to government statistics, milk consumption during the winter months is about 25 percent less than that consumed in the summer which results in a winter over supply.
The council has aligned with a local milk provider and plans to sell warm milk at convenience shops in MRT stations.
"We believe the warm milk ... would be accepted by students and workers as a good breakfast choice in winter," said Lo Lan-tsung (羅藍琮), manager of the China Pasture Co Ltd (農民鮮乳).
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