February 22, 2012

Beef sellers to Taiwan risk losing license over ractopamine issue

Importers found selling beef that has traces of ractopamine, a livestock feed additive that is banned in Taiwan, may have their import permits cancelled, Premier Sean Chen said Tuesday (Feb 21).

"Public health comes first in the government's decisions on beef imports," the premier said.

"Importers found selling ractopamine-tainted beef will be subject to more frequent food safety inspections and may even have their import licenses revoked," Chen said after a visit to the Ministry of Finance in Taipei.

Chen made the remarks amid controversy over the government's stance on beef imports from the US and consumer concerns over the discovery of ractopamine residues in beef products at hypermarkets in Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Ractopamine is allowed in the US and 25 other countries, but banned in Taiwan, China, the EU and more than 100 other countries.

"Selling beef that contains ractopamine is illegal since the feed additive is banned in Taiwan," Chen said.

In response to reporters' questions, Chen said the Department of Health has no plans to step up its inspection of imported food products from 5% to 100%.

"A 100% inspection rate is not feasible," he said. "Decisions on the inspection rate must take into account both public health and efficiency."

However, health authorities will increase their inspections of beef shipments brought in by importers found to be selling products containing ractopamine residues, he stressed.