Pork importers on Saturday sought to assuage public fears over buying unhealthy pork by renewing their vow to only import ractopamine-free pork products, while urging the government to maintain inspection and labeling requirements.
The nation on Jan. 1 began allowing the importation of pork containing trace amounts of the leanness-enhancing feed additive, but importers at the time decided against taking advantage of the new rule, Poultry Sale and Development Association honorary chairman Lee Chun-lai (李春來) said.
The importers figured that there was no market for such products, considering the worries over public safety, and they harbored concerns about operational issues due to how it complicated sourcing for processed foods, Lee said.
Photo: Reuters
Although a referendum on Saturday calling for a ban on the imports failed, importers would stick to their previous decision, he added.
It is now a legal fact that pork containing trace amounts of ractopamine can be imported, Republic of China Swine Association chairman Yang Chieh (楊杰) said.
However, government officials should keep their promise to promote domestic pork and maintain strict border testing for ractopamine, he added.
Taiwan has “already reached critical mass” for self-sufficiency, as it produces nearly 93 percent of the pork it consumes, Yang said.
As it is not possible to raise pigs on a greater scale, Yang said he hopes that the rate would remain above 90 percent to sustain the price of domestic pork.
Production costs for pork are higher in Taiwan than in Europe or the US, but the products are fresher and farmers do not use ractopamine, Yang said.
As it is impossible to become entirely self-sufficient, cheaper imported pork is necessary to stabilize prices, Lee said, urging the public to rest assured that imported pork would remain safe to consume.
After the referendum on Saturday, government officials reiterated their promises to protect the local pork industry and public health.
Clear labeling has brought local producers a boost in sales and consumer trust, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) said, vowing to keep protecting farmers’ incomes.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said inspections would continue to be as strict as ever.
Allowing imports would be a great help to Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, while also opening a new chapter in Taiwan-US relations, Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中) said.
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
“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
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
RSS