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Taiwan, US discussing pork exports controversy

The nation's Deputy Representative to the US Stanley Kao (高碩泰) said on Friday that the government would continue to discuss with US authorities the issue of US pork exports to Taiwan, some of which were found to contain traces of the veterinary drug ractopamine.

As Taiwan does not permit ractopamine residue in meat imports, this stance must be clearly relayed to the US side although the WTO permits countries to allow a limited amount of ractopamine residue in meat products, Kao said.

He said that while Japan and the US allow this, Taiwan and the EU "do not tolerate" residue of the drug in imported meat.

As such, US companies should vigorously examine their exports to Taiwan, Kao said.

He said that the US had expressed its concern after two shipments of US pork exports -- out of a total of 12 -- were found to contain the substance and were therefore denied entry into the country.

Although ractopamine is viewed as not harmful to human health in the US, Kao argued that the Taiwanese government still has to heed public concern as the drug is banned in Taiwan.

He said that US food safety and foreign trade authorities have also contacted Taiwan's representative office to exchange views and continue communicating on the issue.

Kao added that Taiwan is an important market for US agricultural products and that banning such US imports is not in line with the Taiwanese government's policy. However, he urged US exporters and officials to familiarize themselves with regulations imposed by different countries.

Kao promised to step up bilateral communications and to properly deal with the issue, as it was a matter of importance to Taiwanese regulators and consumers as well as to Taiwan and US trade relations.
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