Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a draft proposal to allow the importation of Japanese beef from cattle of all ages. However, the Consumers' Foundation, Chinese Taipei, voiced its opposition on Friday, citing the continued risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.
The foundation noted that Japan has reported over ten cases of BSE since its first discovery in 2001. Given that the disease has a long incubation period of up to ten years and typically affects cattle older than five years, the previous restriction allowing only beef from cattle under 30 months of age was a precautionary measure. It warned that lifting this restriction could expose consumers to the risk of BSE through infected meat products.
The group also criticized the FDA for announcing the draft policy without first disclosing the results of inspections at Japanese facilities or providing prior notice to the public. It argued that the draft fails to justify the policy change, urging the Health Ministry to clearly explain its rationale to ensure consumers’ rights.