Nine administrative directives to lift restrictions on imports of pork products containing ractopamine residue, as well as US beef from cattle 30 months or older, were approved yesterday, with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) prevailing, given its majority in the legislature.
The results pave the way for Taiwan to allow imports and sales of such US pork and beef products from Friday next week.
DPP lawmakers, who hold 61 of the 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan, voted to pass the nine directives, which included regulations on ractopamine residue levels; labeling of the origin of pork products; quarantine and examination procedures for imported beef; and rules for imports of US and Canadian beef.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Opposition lawmakers from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) voted against the directives.
The New Power Party (NPP) said that it has concerns about public health issues and food safety.
Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟) and independent Legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐) sided with the DPP.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
As of press time last night, the legislative session was still ongoing.
Lawmakers were to vote on supplementary bills and amendments to improve controls and evaluations of product labeling, inspections, and enhanced food safety protocols ahead of implementation of the nine directives.
The first directive was to set residue limits for feed additives and supplements on all meat.
The opposition focused on ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing agent for cattle and hogs by some farming operations.
In 2012, the then-KMT administration passed laws for ractopamine levels in imported beef, stipulating a maximum residue level of 0.01 parts per million (ppm).
Lawmakers yesterday approved legislation to permit imports of US pork at the same level.
A ban on the use of ractopamine in domestic farming operations remains in place.
The directives were introduced shortly after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Aug. 28 announced that the government would lift the bans on pork containing ractopamine and beef from cattle more than 30 months old.
Eight of the directives came from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to adjust food safety regulations regarding feed additive and veterinary drug residues, as well as rules for labeling of packaged pork products to show their origin or to indicate that it is for food suppliers.
Another ministry directive was to update quarantine and examination procedures for imported beef.
There were dissenters within the DPP, with legislators Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬), Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國) and Chiang Yung-chang (江永昌) abstaining over amendments to the School Health Act (學校衛生法) and other issues.
They cited reservation over imports of US pork raised by their constituents and local hog farmers.
Over the past few weeks, Lin has expressed doubt that promises of effective management could be kept.
She proposed her own amendments, including stronger labeling and inspection rules, as well as restrictions on such meat being used for school meals.
“If our party punishes me for upholding my principles, I will accept it,” Lin said.
“I am at ease with my stance,” Liu said.
NPP caucus whip Chiu Hsien-chi (邱顯智) said of his party’s defeated proposals: “It is regretful to see our proposed legislation rejected.”
“Even our proposal to increase fines for breaches of the regulations did not pass, depriving the public of the basic right to choose,” Chiu said.
TPP caucus whip Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶) said that she was disappointed about the results.
She urged people to use their vote to express their anger.
KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said: “DPP legislators have castrated themselves by going against the public will.”
“They are a rubber-stamp team and the party has become a ‘ractopamine pork’ entity,” she said.
Additional reporting by Chen Yun and CNA
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
FOUR DESIGNATED AREAS: Notices were issued for live-fire exercises in waters south and northwest of Penghu, northeast of Keelung and west of Kaohsiung, they said The military is planning three major annual exercises across the army, navy and air force this month, with the navy’s “Hai Chiang” (海強, “Sea Strong”) drills running from today through Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The Hai Chiang exercise, which is to take place in waters surrounding Taiwan, would feature P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, the ministry said, adding that the drills aim to bolster the nation’s offshore defensive capabilities. China has intensified military and psychological pressure against Taiwan, repeatedly sending warplanes and vessels into areas near the nation’s air defense identification zone and across
A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would severely threaten the national security of the US, Japan, the Philippines and other nations, while global economic losses could reach US$10 trillion, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) wrote in an article published yesterday in Foreign Affairs. “The future of Taiwan is not merely a regional concern; it is a test of whether the international order can withstand the pressure of authoritarian expansionism,” Lin wrote in the article titled “Taiwan’s Plan for Peace Through Strength — How Investments in Resilience Can Deter Beijing.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) intent to take Taiwan by force
RSS