Taiwan to tighten restriction on risky beef products

Amidst public concerns over mad cow disease, Taiwan said on Tuesday (Dec 29) it would resume a ban on certain US beef imports.

Legislators agreed to amend a law on food health to ban imports of cow organs, minced beef and other high-risk items such as spines and eyes, said Lu Hsueh-chang, parliamentary whip of the ruling Kuomintang party.

He added that the decision would be finalised next month in a vote that would also determine whether beef-on-the-bone should be banned. The move will partially overturn a decision by the Taiwanese health department to allow imports of US beef-on-the-bone and cow organs, which has met with public protest.

Taiwan banned all US beef imports in December 2003 over fears of mad cow disease. In 2006, the country relaxed the rules to permit boneless beef imports.