Premier Su Tseng-chang is calling on local counties and cities to support the government’s new meat import rules. Su was speaking Tuesday in Chiayi city.
He was referring to the latest controversy over the use of ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing animal feed additive, in US meat imports.
In late August, President Tsai Ing-wen said the government will be lifting restrictions on US beef and pork imports. Taiwan will allow imports of US pork with ractopamine residue and US beef from cattle aged 30 months and older.
However, Chiayi city in southwestern Taiwan and the western county of Yunlin both said ractopamine residue will not be allowed in meat products.
Su’s comments came after the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration announced its plans to revise standards of veterinary drug residues. It will set standards for ractopamine residue levels in meat imports.