December 30, 2020

Taiwan to fine businesses that falsely label "Taiwan pork" up to US$142,000

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture said they will fine businesses that supply meat products falsely labelled as "Taiwan pork" up to TWD 4 million (~US$142,000; TWD 100 = US$3.56), Taipei Times reported.

Chen Chi-chung, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture Minister, said for a meat product to be labelled "Taiwan pork", the product's raw materials must be sourced domestically.

Chen's comments come after Taiwan's parliament approved the government's decision to permit imports of pork from the United States contained ractopamine and cattle older than 30 months.

Chen said authorities are reviewing more than 10,000 local businesses that have applied for the official "Taiwan pork" logo. The logo is a new branding initiative by the council to help consumers differentiate restaurants and shops that supply local or imported pork.

Chen also said daily data for volume of domestic and imported pork on the Taiwanese market will be published on the council and the Ministry of Health and Welfare's website in 2021.

- Taipei Times