February 9, 2006

First US beef shipment to arrive in Taiwan  
 

The first shipment of US beef since June last year will arrive in Taiwan on Thursday this week, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

Taiwan's department of health director is expected to inspect the shipment Friday morning, and Taiwanese consumers could be eating the beef by Friday afternoon.

This is the first time US beef has been allowed in Taiwan since Jun 25 last year, when a Texas cow tested positive for BSE. Before the ban on US beef in December 2003, Taiwan was the sixth largest importer of US beef, purchasing about US$325 million worth of beef annually.