People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chen Chao-jong (
Speaking at a news conference at the Legislative Yuan, Chen also asked Department of Health (DOH) officials to sign a four-point pledge vowing not to allow such imports from countries affected by mad cow disease.
Chen said that while more than 60 countries -- including Japan and South Korea -- have banned US beef imports since the first case of locally acquired mad cow disease in that country in 2003, the government still decided to lift the ban in April before reimposing it in June, after a second case of mad cow disease was detected in the US.
Chen accused the government of extremely rash decision-making, and of ignoring professional assessments and lacking in risk management.
He suggested the government, like Japan, send veterinary officials to collect information in areas affected by mad cow disease and strictly restrict all beef and beef-product imports from affected countries. He also called for a full crackdown on smuggling.
The lawmaker asked the DOH to stand up to political pressure from the US and evaluate whether to re-open the market to US beef based on the principles of "professionalism, safety and health."
He said that any person in Taiwan would be entitled to government compensation if they were to develop mad cow disease after eating US beef.
However, no DOH officials signed the four-point pledge, saying its contents lacked a sound scientific basis.
Meanwhile, in related news, the US agriculture secretary yesterday urged Asian nations still banning US beef to follow Japan's example and open their markets.
Mike Johanns, speaking to a US farm group on the sidelines of the WTO talks in Hong Kong, said US beef is "within days, if not as we speak, ready to be shipped into Japan."
"We are not going to relent in our efforts to open other markets for our beef," he said. "Now really is the time for South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Singapore, China and others to follow the Japanese example and resume normal trading relations."
On Monday, Japan eased its ban on US beef after two years of negotiations and a lengthy approval process.
"I think Japan was such a major step," Johanns said. "Countries in this part of the world look at that as very positive because [Japan's] process was so painstaking."
Johanns said that the US applauds "Japan's acceptance of a science-based system for trading beef."
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