May 30, 2007

Taiwan likely to lift ban on Canadian beef

Taiwan seems likely to lift its ban on Canadian beef as an advisory committee has determined that there is only a remote risk of mad cow disease from Canadian beef.

Taiwan has banned Canadian beef since May 2003, when mad cow cases were detected in Canada.

If the Taiwanese government agrees to lift the ban, supplies can begin shipping in two weeks, according to Hsieh Ting-hung, deputy director of the Department of Food Safety. 

The reconsideration was based on the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) decision to soften its security rating on Canadian and United States cattle. The organization recently reclassified beef from the US and Canada as having controlled risk from mad cow disease. The decision also prompted South Korea, which recently allowed boneless beef imports from the US, to begin negotiations for bone-in beef.

Hsieh said he does not see major obstacles for the re-entry of US beef at the moment.

Before the ban, Taiwan was Canada's fifth largest beef export market. Most of Taiwan's beef currently comes from Australia, New Zealand and the US.

Taiwan last year lifted a ban on boneless US beef from calves less than 20 months of age.