Taiwan will lift a ban on Canadian beef if imports are deemed safe. That’s the word from a Cabinet official on Friday.
Taiwan suspended beef imports from Canada last February due to safety concerns soon after a beef cow in Canada was found to have mad cow disease.
Taiwan is probably the only country in the world that has yet to reopen its borders to Canadian beef. Similar bans imposed by China and South Korea have already been lifted. The official said the government has made it clear that the health of the Taiwanese people is a major concern.
Also on Monday, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official said a risk analysis conducted by Taiwan in Canada last November found Canadian beef products safe. However, the FDA official said it’s up to the Cabinet to decide whether to lift the ban.