January 9, 2006

Taiwan to review US beef safety

A Taiwanese scientific panel charged with reviewing the safety of US beef for import is expected to meet sometime in the next two weeks to decide whether trade should be able to resume, US government officials said.

US government and beef industry officials said they had originally expected the panel to meet in December, but a 15-day delay for the names of the panel members to be published for public display held up the process. That 15-day period was scheduled to end Jan 8, said a high-level US government official, who asked not to be named.

A Taiwanese government official said Friday the panel has not yet set a firm date for the meeting.

A decision by the panel that US beef is safe would be reported to Taiwan's health ministry, paving the way the country's ban on US beef to be eased.

If Taiwan does agree to allow in US beef shipments, it will be the second time in two years.

Most Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, banned US beef in December 2003 after the first case of mad-cow disease was found there. Taiwan lifted its ban in April 2005 but reinstated it after a second case of mad-cow disease was announced in the US in June 2005.

Taiwan imported US$76 million of US beef in 2003, according to USDA data.