Negotiations for the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between Taiwan and the US covered protecting public health and aligning with international standards based on scientific evidence, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said yesterday, adding that high-risk parts of US beef would remain fully banned and that Taiwan’s food safety system and risk management measures would not be relaxed, ensuring the public’s safety.
The agreement signed in Washington on Thursday sparked heated debates as it includes changes to Taiwan’s regulations on US beef imports, allowing the import of beef from cattle under 30 months of age, including skulls, brains, eyes, spinal cords, ground beef and certain offal.
Regarding the concerns, Shih said that while the US has been classified internationally as a “negligible risk” for mad cow disease, the adjustments to beef imports were made based on existing risk assessments.
Photo: CNA
Under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法), the import of beef skulls, brains, eyes, spinal cords, ground beef and offal is prohibited, regardless of the cattle’s age, said Food and Drug Administration Director-General Tsai Shu-chen (蔡淑貞).
Additionally, regulations ban mechanically recovered meat, mechanically separated meat, end of the intestine and advanced recovered meat from cattle older than 30 months, including skulls and spines, she said.
Following the signed agreement, imports would be allowed for beef skulls, brains, eyes and spinal cords from cattle under 30 months, as well as ground beef and certain offal (such as heart, liver and kidneys) from cattle of any age, she said, adding that high-risk items like mechanically recovered and mechanically separated meat would still be banned.
Shih said among the key points in the negotiations include the focus on accelerating the review process for US pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Going forward, US approval would be used as a key reference, shortening the time for market launch and National Health Insurance (NHI) pricing, while improving review transparency, he said.
The management of genetically modified (GM) foods would remain unchanged, he said, adding that this includes pre-market inspections, mandatory labeling, a ban on unapproved products and restrictions on using GM foods in school lunches.
The management of US pork and beef would also be aligned with international standards, he said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽) said that Taiwan’s eating habits differ from international norms, with a much higher consumption of offal compared to the EU and the US.
Noting local dishes like braised snacks and “black-and-white cuts” often include offal, she asked: “Has the ministry conducted a comprehensive risk assessment? If not, they should not open up the market hastily.”
Additional reporting by Liu Wan-lin
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