Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s recent take on the use of leanness drug in pork has met with strong opposition from a KMT legislator and the agriculture minister.
Taiwan currently bans the import of US pork containing a leanness enhancing drug called ractopamine. When asked about her position on the issue, Tsai said Taiwan should refer to Japan or Korea, which allows limited use of ractopamine.
KMT legislator Wang Yu-min said Tuesday the KMT has always insisted on zero use of ractopamine in all pork products. She suspects Tsai’s new take on the issue could lead to the DPP allowing the import of US pork.
“Many of Taiwan’s dishes contain pork as one of the main ingredients. If we refer our standards to that of Japan and Korea, our citizens would have ingested excess ractopamine which seriously jeopardizes people’s health. Therefore, we definitely should not loosen our ban on the substance,” said Wang.
Agriculture minister Chen Bao-ji said the use of ractopamine lowers the cost of pig farming and allowing US pork imports will impact Taiwan’s local pig farming industry. He also said that over 70% of the world’s pig farms ban ractopamine, and Taiwan has no reason to be different. He said the lawmakers should evaluate Taiwan’s situation before making changes that might damage local industries.