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
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake and several aftershocks battered southern Taiwan early this morning, causing houses and roads to collapse and leaving dozens injured and 50 people isolated in their village. A total of 26 people were reported injured and sent to hospitals due to the earthquake as of late this morning, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Welfare figures. In Sising Village (西興) of Chiayi County's Dapu Township (大埔), the location of the quake's epicenter, severe damage was seen and roads entering the village were blocked, isolating about 50 villagers. Another eight people who were originally trapped inside buildings in Tainan
CLASH OF WORDS: While China’s foreign minister insisted the US play a constructive role with China, Rubio stressed Washington’s commitment to its allies in the region The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday affirmed and welcomed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio statements expressing the US’ “serious concern over China’s coercive actions against Taiwan” and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, in a telephone call with his Chinese counterpart. The ministry in a news release yesterday also said that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had stated many fallacies about Taiwan in the call. “We solemnly emphasize again that our country and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and it has been an objective fact for a long time, as well as
‘ARMED GROUP’: Two defendants used Chinese funds to form the ‘Republic of China Taiwan Military Government,’ posing a threat to national security, prosecutors said A retired lieutenant general has been charged after using funds from China to recruit military personnel for an “armed” group that would assist invading Chinese forces, prosecutors said yesterday. The retired officer, Kao An-kuo (高安國), was among six people indicted for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法), the High Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement. The group visited China multiple times, separately and together, from 2018 to last year, where they met Chinese military intelligence personnel for instructions and funding “to initiate and develop organizations for China,” prosecutors said. Their actions posed a “serious threat” to “national security and social stability,” the statement
NATURAL INTERRUPTION: As cables deteriorate, core wires snap in progression along the cable, which does not happen if they are hit by an anchor, an official said Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) immediately switched to a microwave backup system to maintain communications between Taiwan proper and Lienchiang County (Matsu) after two undersea cables malfunctioned due to natural deterioration, the Ministry of Digital Affairs told an emergency news conference yesterday morning. Two submarine cables connecting Taiwan proper and the outlying county — the No. 2 and No. 3 Taiwan-Matsu cables — were disconnected early yesterday morning and on Wednesday last week respectively, the nation’s largest telecom said. “After receiving the report that the No. 2 cable had failed, the ministry asked Chunghwa Telecom to immediately activate a microwave backup system, with
RSS