The US is looking into the extension of a Taiwanese ban on certain US beef products, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director William Stanton said yesterday.
In January, the legislature passed an amendment to the Act Governing Food Sanitation (食品衛生管理法) that imposed a ban on ground beef, internal organs and other items, counteracting the beef protocol signed between Taiwan and the US on Oct. 22 last year.
On Wednesday, the government held back on approval of imports of cow tongues, tails and other items, which are not defined as internal organs and thus do not fall under the ban as stipulated in the act, after consumer concerns that these parts may expose them to risk of contracting bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease.
Asked by reporters whether the US considered the ban inconsistent with the protocol and whether the US would demand a review of the protocol, as each side is entitled to after the deal had been put into force for 180 days yesterday, Stanton avoided answering the question.
“[Whether to review the protocol] would be a decision Washington will make ... I know they continue to review the issue,” he said.
“I don’t think there has been an official announcement other than that Washington, the Department of Agriculture and the US Trade Representative Office have expressed deep disappointment at the decision,” Stanton said.
However, Stanton said that the Taiwanese government’s reversal of policy to hold off on imports of US cow tongues was understandable “given the media controversy.”
“I think people understand why the [reversal] was made,” he said.
Stanton stopped short of elaborating, saying that he did not want to say anything that would upset people, adding that “US beef and beef products are safe.”
“My hope is that eventually the issue will calm down,” said Stanton, calling on Taiwanese to focus on the fact that US beef and beef products are safe to consume, as proven by the scientific studies conducted either by Taiwan’s administration or by the World Organization for Animal Health.
Stanton said the US had stringent standards for animal safety and was concerned about the health, not only of US citizens, but of those abroad to whom the US sells its products.
“It’s not in our own interest to sell products that will make anyone ill, and certainly not our friends in Taiwan,” he said.
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