August 2, 2004

Panama's Chicken Meets Taiwan's Export Standards
 

The quality and hygiene of chicken products from Panama comply with export standards, a quarantine official from Taiwan said Saturday.

Chen Ching-tsung, a specialist with the Bureau of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine under the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture, said that after reviewing the government inspection system for exports and visiting abattoirs and meat processing locations in Panama. He is positive that Panamanian chicken is safe and good for export.

However, he declined to say whether Taiwan will import any chicken from Panama. "Matters pertaining to Taiwan's imports of chicken from Panama will be up to a COA import and quarantine commission," Chen added.

Chen has visited relevant agencies from Panama's ministries of health and agricultural development to gain a better understanding of the country's meat inspection process prior to allowing such products to be exported.

He has also visited the slaughterhouses and meat processing factories run by the quasi-official Grupo Melo, one of the largest meat exporters in Panama, which is interested in exporting chicken to Taiwan.

Grupo Melo officials estimated that once Taiwan gives a green light to Panama by issuing a quarantine inspection certificate, the group will be capable of exporting chicken worth between US$1.3 million and US$2 million to Taiwan per year.

According to the Taiwan-Panama trade agreement, which took effect January 1 this year, Taiwan will offer Panama an annual export quota of 800 metric tons of ready-to-cook chicken legs, chicken wings and other portions, as well as 500 metric tons of chicken offal to Taiwan.