Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that Taiwan will not allow the import of US pork containing leanness-enhancing additive ractopamine if the pork does not meet safety standards. Chen was speaking Thursday at the Legislature.
The government has lifted a ban on US pork products and is set to allow the importation of US pork containing ractopamine starting in January. However, the health ministry and the agricultural council will be required to conduct on-site inspections at pork farms in the United States first.
Chen said because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is still discussing the possibility of inspecting US pig farms virtually.
The issue of US pork imports has pitted the ruling DPP against the opposition KMT and some civic groups. Critics say that consuming ractopamine could be harmful to the health, but the government says that this claim is not supported by scientific evidence.
It is expected that the Legislature will vote on the controversial issue in mid-December after negotiations between the ruling and opposition camps.