DPP Calls for “No Detectable Ractopamine Residue” While Adopting “No Inspection” Policy When in Power

DPP Calls for “No Detectable Ractopamine Residue” While Adopting “No Inspection” Policy When in Power
 

Source: KMT Culture and Communications Committee
 

Jun. 28, 2012

Agricultural Minister Chen Bao-ji (陳保基) was invited to deliver a report on “progress of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in 2012” yesterday, June 28th, before the KMT Central Committee meeting. Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) pointed out on the occasion that the DPP repeatedly claimed that it had retained the ban on U.S. beef imports containing traces of ractopamine (Paylean) during its administration (2000-2008). However, in fact, the DPP had not conducted any inspections of U.S. beef imports for four or five years, in essence unconditionally lifting the ban on U.S. beef containing ractopamine residue, stated Ma, adding that over 100,000 tons of Paylean-treated beef from the U.S. had been consumed in Taiwan at the time.

Chairman Ma said that the DPP legislators were shouting “safeguard public health” in the Legislative Yuan, calling for a “total ban on ractopamine,” but the policy on U.S. beef imports that the DPP had implemented during its administration was actually “no inspection,” rather than “no detectable ractopamine residue.” The DPP administration unilaterally loosened the restrictions on U.S. beef imports containing traces of ractopamine, otherwise, it wouldn’t have allowed the U.S. beef products to be imported without any inspections, explained Ma.

Chairman Ma earnestly stated that the U.S. beef imports issue had been politicized. He called on all people in Taiwan to remain rational and asked both the ruling and opposition parties to take the nation’s future into consideration in order to reach a consensus as soon as possible.

Chairman Ma stated that the CAC had been studying the standard of permissible quantities of ractopamine for five years and a scientific conclusion had been reached. Right now, the main outstanding issues were fair trade and crisis management mechanisms of various countries, Ma stated, adding that it was no longer a question of science. Therefore, no country regarded the CAC’s impending conclusion as the only standard on ractopamine, said Ma.

Chairman Ma pointed out that unlike the DPP, which had unconditionally lifted the ban on U.S. beef imports during its administration, the incumbent government designed a concrete system to implement its policy on U.S. beef imports with well-planned regulations and sophisticated ancillary measures. Moreover, Chairman Ma stressed that in Taiwan, 92% of the meat consumed was pork, and pig offal was also popular food in Taiwan. Therefore, he said, the government had not only established the policy principle of “separation of beef and pork,” and expressly determined the maximum permissible quantities of ractopamine residue in beef imports, but also had stipulated that U.S. beef imports must be inspected by customs, adding that imported beef containing excessive quantity of ractopamine would be returned. Furthermore, imported beef products on sale in stores, markets, or restaurants must be labeled, showing the country of origin, i.e., the U.S.A., so that consumers would be totally free to make their own choice when purchasing beef products.
 

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