The TPP Legislative Caucus stated on Monday that the central and local governments should work together on the cause for the different test results on the presence of Cimbuterol in Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s pork. TPP caucus convener Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) requested the Cabinet to report their findings to the public as soon as possible.
Cimbuterol is an additive that has been used illicitly to promote growth and improve feed efficiency in livestock and is banned in Taiwan. The Taichung Health Bureau found 0.002 parts per million of Cimbuterol in Taisugar’s frozen Pork Boston Butt in tests conducted on products from the General Welfare Service store in Taichung.
Agriculture Ministry Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency Director General Chiou Chwei-jang (邱垂章) said that their testing did not show any Cimbuterol in the 45 pork samples obtained from Taisugar. He emphasized that the samples were from the same livestock farm and slaughterhouse and were processed on the same day as the contaminated pork.
The difference in test results between the two agencies has caused controversy among consumers buying Lunar New Year goods, though Chiou ensures the public that the government will continue its investigation with a nationwide sampling before the holidays.