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Taiwan to resume importing US beef

Local media yesterday reported that a representative of the US Meat Export Federation (美國肉類出口協會) office in Taipei said at a press conference that Taiwan will allow the import of US beef again next year.

According to the report, imports will be resumed in four stages.

The first quarter will see the resumption of imports of boneless beef, the import of beef on the bone will be resumed during the second quarter, and the import of other cuts will be resumed during the third and fourth quarters.

The report went on to say that the decision will mean that beef prices, which have been increasing, will fall.

A representative of the US Meat Export Federation office in Taipei was quoted as saying that prices on beef from Australia and New Zealand have increased by 30 percent to 40 percent compared to last year, and that resumed imports of US beef will cause prices to fall, with US beef prices being lower than before imports were banned.

According to the report, following the outbreak of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), in the USA, New Zealand beef now makes up about 54 percent of Taiwan's beef imports, while about 45 percent comes from Australia, with Canada supplying the remainder.

The report further quoted the representative as saying that the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia already have allowed the resumption of US beef imports.
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