January 18, 2006

Taiwan to lift ban on US beef imports

Taiwan said on Jan 17 that it is ready to lift the ban on US beef. This follows the decisions of Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

Department of Health official Hsiao Tung-ming said reviews by experts have shown that US beef no longer presents health concerns. The department suggested that the government resume importing beef from US calves under 30 months of age, with bones and offal removed.

Hsiao said if mad cow disease, or BSE breaks out in the US, there is no need to impose the ban again as the US has controlled the two previous outbreaks effectively. He added that isolated cases of BSE have not been shown to affect the safety of US beef. However, the US is expected to give a report on an outbreak within a month, he said.

In December 2003, Taiwan banned US beef imports after reports of the first US BSE case were made. The ban was lifted on Apr 16 last year.

After a second case of the disease was confirmed in the US, Taiwan banned US beef imports again on Jun 25 last year.

Before it imposed the ban in 2003, Taiwan was the sixth-largest importer of US beef and imported 325 tonnes of US beef and beef products in 2003.