February 1, 2005

Taiwan to announce decision on US beef imports

Taiwan will announce in a month's time the results of inspections preceding a likely announcement on allowing US beef back into the local market, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) official said.

Imports were suspended in December 2003 after the discovery of a case of mad cow disease in Washington state.

Taiwan health and agriculture officials have traveled to the United States to conduct on-site inspections of the implementation of the U.S. safeguards against mad cow disease, the official said.

Last October, Taiwan lodged a protest when the USDA announced prematurely that the island had agreed in principle to resume imports of U.S. beef and beef products.