Taiwan Moves to Ban US Beef Products
US - Lawmakers in Taiwan have voted to ban some US beef products, a move that reverses an agreement reached between the US and Taiwan in October.
6 January 2010
4 minute read
After the agreement was reached and the ban was reversed in the autumn, protesters in Taiwan rallied against the move and political tensions about the issue grew within the country.
Last week, as reports of potential action by the legislature circulated, Deputy US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and USDA Undersecretary Jim Miller issued a joint statement saying: “The proposed amendment's provisions do not have a basis in science or fact and thus in no way serve to protect Taiwan's food supply.
"The Taiwan authorities should consider very carefully the impact that passage of the amendment in its current form would have on Taiwan's reputation as a reliable trading partner and responsible member of the international community."
The Obama Administration is expected to issue an additional statement, according to news reports.
AMI President J. Patrick Boyle registered strong objections today.
“In taking this action, the government of Taiwan clearly is failing to live up to its obligations under the bilateral agreement between our governments to expand beef trade,” he said.
“US beef is among the safest anywhere and data show a record of sustained food safety progress. There is simply no scientific basis for Taiwan’s action and at this point, we must question the seriousness of their commitment to being a reliable trading partner and member of the World Trade Organization.”
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) said it was extremely disappointed that Taiwan has reversed its decision on a carefully negotiated science-based bilateral beef trade protocol.
“In our view, the issues expressed by politicians in Taiwan have absolutely no basis in scientific fact and fly in the face of Taiwan’s own risk assessment,” said Gregg Doud, NCBA chief economist.
“To suggest that there are any safety concerns related to US beef is outrageous.&
“This is a purely domestic political issue in Taiwan,” said Mr Doud.
“US beef producers are sick and tired of being used as a political football.”
“Taiwan’s decision to abrogate a portion of this agreement is extremely disappointing,” Mr Doud continued.
“It’s particularly concerning given the fact that we considered Taiwan to be a trusted trading partner as a member of the World Trade Organization.”
NCBA is urging the Obama Administration to explore every available option to rectify this situation as soon as possible.
“The action taken by Taiwan’s legislature is very disappointing and has no scientific basis whatsoever,” he said.
“Before expanding beef trade with the United States in October of last year, Taiwan's best scientists determined the safety of US beef through a thorough and extensive risk assessment. That effort has now been largely cast aside, as this policy shows no regard for OIE guidelines or the controlled risk status held by both the United States and Taiwan with regard to BSE.”
Mr Seng also noted that the blanket inclusion of ground beef and offals in this action is inappropriate on several levels. There are no scientific concerns related to BSE regarding ground beef and offals as they are produced according to the same rigorous food safety regulations as other US beef products.
The action by Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan will ban the importation of skulls, brains, eyes, spinal cord, offals and ground beef from the United States and any country that has had a case of BSE until the 10th anniversary of that case. Of the three cases identified in the United States, the latest was found 15 March 2006.
The USMEF said, however, that on one positive note, neither action taken by the Taiwan legislature prohibits boneless or bone-in muscle cuts from under-30-month cattle.
Since the new beef trade protocol between the US and Taiwan was adopted in October, suppliers from the United States have voluntarily excluded ground beef and offal, limiting their shipments to under-30-month muscle cuts. Therefore, the latest actions by Taiwan’s parliament should not disrupt existing orders for U.S. beef.
“The recent addition of under-30-month bone-in cuts has allowed us to grow this market to some degree, and to satisfy the needs of more of our customers in Taiwan,” Mr Seng said. “While we now face nonscientific trade barriers that will hamper our ability to expand the range of U.S. products in this market over the long term, we want to assure consumers in Taiwan that we will continue to provide them with safe, high-quality US beef.”
Through October, Taiwan was the sixth-largest value market for U.S. beef exports at $114.3 million – an increase of six per cent over the same period in 2008. When year-end totals are available, exports to Taiwan are expected to surpass the all-time record of $128 million, set in 2008. On a value basis, the United States is Taiwan’s largest beef supplier with a 40 percent share of the imported beef market.
TheCattleSite News Desk
