The Central Election Commission says that three more referendum questions have gathered the necessary signatures to advance to a national vote. The news on Friday comes after the commission finished checking and verifying signed petition lists to ensure their validity. The three referendum questions relate to pork imports, future referendum dates and a planned liquid natural gas terminal.
The first question asks respondents whether they agree that the government should completely ban pork containing ractopamine. Ractopamine is a leanness-enhancing additive added to pig feed in the USA and New Zealand, among other countries. However, it is banned in the majority of nations worldwide, including in the EU, China, and Russia.
Also passing the threshold is a question on referendum dates. The question asks respondents whether referendums should be held on the same day as general elections. Supporters argue that this would raise turnout.
The third question asks respondents whether authorities should move a planned liquid natural gas terminal away from an algal reef in northern Taiwan. Government authorities say the terminal is necessary to prevent blackouts as Taiwan transitions away from coal and nuclear power. But opponents say the development risks causing serious harm to the local environment.
Those three new questions join one question on nuclear power that has already passed the review process. That question asks respondents whether they agree that the government should continue with the construction of a nuclear power plant in northern Taiwan.
Taiwanese law says that the threshold for second stage petitions is 1.5% of the voting age public. This year, that means petitions needed to collect at least 289,667 signatures. All three questions exceeded that total by more than 160,000.
The Central Election Commission will meet next Friday to complete the official review process.