The issue of Japanese and Chinese customs officials holding Taiwanese food products at their borders is still unresolved, the Bureau of Foreign Trade confirmed yesterday.
Bureau Deputy Director-General Yang Shu-mei (楊淑媚) told reporters that Japan and China have not lifted bans on imports of Taiwanese food products.
Yang said all the products — regardless of whether they are on a list of tainted food products compiled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare — were being held at the borders.
“As long as the products were produced by the manufacturers that are on the list, they are not allowed to pass through customs,” Yang said.
Earlier, Minister of Economic Affairs Woody Duh (杜紫軍) separately told reporters that that the Japanese government has agreed to a suggestion that Taiwanese products be inspected in accordance with the list, instead of halting all imports of such products.
However, Yang said that Tokyo is waiting for an explanation of the food scandal and what measures Taipei is taking to ensure food safety.
Yang said the Ministry of Health and Welfare has not dispatched any personnel to Japan to explain the scandals.
Meanwhile, Malaysian customs officials have also banned imports from Taiwan in accordance with the list, while all oil products manufactured by Cheng I Food Co Ltd (正義), Ting Hsin Oil and Fat Industrial Co (頂新製油實業) and Wei Chuan Foods Corp (味全食品) are not allowed on shelves there, Yang said.
Singapore is also inspecting products in accordance with the health ministry’s list, she added.
Citing a certificate issued by the Australian Office in Taipei — which represents Australian interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations — regarding beef tallow imported by Namchow Chemical Industrial Co (南僑化工), Yang said “the goods [tallow] were not intended for industrial use.”
“Australian officials confirmed that the product has met regulations pertaining to unrefined edible tallow,” Yang added.
On Wednesday, Duh said Taiwan’s food sector could encounter losses of NT$12.4 billion (US$407.8 million) this year, with losses of NT$10.2 billion domestically and NT$2.2 billion in exports.
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