The Cabinet has approved new regulations on imported pork. The measures are intended to help alleviate public concern about the government’s plans to allow imports of US pork treated with the additive ractopamine.
The decision to allow in pork containing ractopamine will take effect January 1. This change in policy removes a major stumbling block in Taiwan’s trade ties with the US. However, the decision is a controversial one, and public concerns remain about whether ractopamine is safe for human consumption.
On Thursday, the Cabinet announced that it will inspect US meat processing facilities that have not exported meat to Taiwan before to check for compliance with Taiwanese regulations. The Cabinet also announced new labeling regulations, inspections of imported pork products, and fines for non-compliance with labeling rules.
The Cabinet has allocated NT$320 million (US$11.2 million) to ensure the manpower needed to carry out inspections on imported pork at customs and to help local governments carry out their own inspections.