December 18, 2020

 

Taiwan to implement ractopamine label rules for pork in stores

 

 

The city government of Taipei City, Taiwan, has unveiled measures ahead of a policy change on US pork imports on December 11 that requires convenience stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets to set up ractopamine-free pork promotion sections starting next month.

 

On August 28, as Taiwan bans dosing pigs with ractopamine, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announced looser restrictions on imports of US pork containing traces of the feed additive within a certain limit, as well as beef from cattle aged 30 months or older. This policy will take effect on January 1, 2021.

 

Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang told a news conference that under the central government's plan, all categories of US pork products could be stacked alongside each other on store shelves, including ractopamine-free products; those that used the additive, but in which ractopamine was not detected in tests; and those with residual traces of the chemical within legal standards.

 

Huang added: "Without differentiating between the categories, people would assume that all US pork contains the additive, causing trouble for importers and market operators."

 

Since the central government did not impose restrictions on hog importers, according to Taipei's food safety regulations, the city government can only require sellers to label products that have traces of the additive.

 

"Beginning January 1, 2021, pork importers are required to test their products for ractopamine residue," said Huang, adding that markets in Taipei would be asked to set up sections for products from pigs that were not given ractopamine, or were given it, but tests did not detect any residue.

 

"Taipei's public facilities and schools would be require to using only locally produced pork, while the city's postpartum care centres have announced that they will only provide ractopamine-free pork," Huang said. "Sellers and catering businesses should label pork products that contain residues of ractopamine."

 

The Taipei city government will require pork importers to sign up on its food material registration platform starting July 1, 2021. Huang highlighted that the deadline was extended as the city needs to help businesses with the procedure.

 

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je told the news conference that the Taipei city government can regulate local operators, but it cannot prevent products that are brought in from elsewhere in Taiwan.

 

Meanwhile, the New Taipei City Council recently approved amendments to its food safety regulations, which included clause and penalties requiring local pork products to be ractopamine-free and labelled accordingly.

 

The amendments needs official approval before they can be promulgated, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi said, adding that if approval is not obtained, the municipality would file an administrative appeal or resort to the Council of Grand Justices.

 

Premier Su Tseng-chang  said that the nation should be a unified entity that does not impose regulations that vary from place to place.

 

Su added: "With food safety its priority, the central government would watch how local governments respond and announce consistent rules later.

 

"Hopefully, the cabinet's plan would be supported by local governments."

 

 - Taipei Times