The Taiwan Swine Association expressed strong opposition to imports of US pork containing traces of the leanness-enhancing agent ractopamine, saying that it would not change its position unless scientific evidence proves that such meat poses no health risk.
“We will stand against [such imports] to the end,” association secretary-general Chang Sheng-chin (張生金) said.
The Agricultural Technology Research Institute has been studying the impact of the use of leanness-enhancing drugs on pigs, while the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been running a health safety assessment on consumption of pork containing ractopamine, Chang said.
At the moment, all members of his association insist that the government must uphold the ban on imports of US pork containing traces of ractopamine, Chang said.
The industry renewed its strong opposition to US pork imports as Taiwan and US officials were engaging in a trade dialogue in Taipei.
The US International Trade Commission in a trade report published on Tuesday said that at a meeting between Taiwan and the US under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement platform last year, the two sides agreed that more progress was needed on a broad range of agricultural trade issues.
“The United States was mostly concerned about the degree to which biotechnology plays a role in Taiwan’s agricultural trade policies, and expressed strong interest that Taiwan remove bans on US pork and certain beef products produced using ractopamine,” the report said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
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