Pig farmers and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday called for zero tolerance on the animal feed additive ractopamine, with an imminent relaxation of regulations governing imports of meat containing residues of the drug appearing inevitable as an extra legislative session begins today.
“While the Codex Alimentarius Commission narrowly voted in favor of maximum residue levels [MRL] of ractopamine on July 5, the TSU insists on zero tolerance of the drug,” TSU caucus whip Hsu Chung-hsin (許忠信) told a joint press conference with representatives of pig farmers.
The TSU would block the legislative proceeding in the extra session, Hsu said, but he declined to disclose how the party would do so.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Hsu said his party opposed relaxing a ban on meat with ractopamine residues because it was doubtful the government would be able to implement its four principles regarding meat imports.
The four principles include establishing a safe level of ractopamine residues for beef imports, differentiating the safety standards for beef and pork products, requiring mandatory labeling of beef products and maintaining the ban on imports of beef offal from the US.
Hsu said a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) plan to differentiate pork and beef safety standards in an additional resolution would be ineffective because the additional resolution would not be legally binding.
“That is why pig farmers are worried,” Republic of China Swine Association president Yang Kuan-chang (楊冠章) said, adding that the commission’s decision had panicked local pig farmers.
“Pig farmers are extremely suspicious of the Council of Agriculture’s pledge that ractopamine-tainted US pork imports would not be allowed,” said Lin Chiu-kuei (林秋桂), first deputy chairperson of the association and president of the Chiayi County Swine Association.
TSU Legislator Lin Shih-chia (林世嘉) said Taiwan should follow the example of the EU, which maintains a zero-tolerance policy on ractopamine, adding that the nation should apply its own measures to safeguard food safety, citing the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
RSS