Agricultural News
Taiwan Beef Reversal Condemned by US Meat Industy and Politicians
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:19:10 CST
Lawmakers in Taiwan yesterday voted to ban some U.S. beef products, a move that reverses an agreement reached between the U.S. and Taiwan in October
After the agreement was reached and the ban was reversed this fall, protesters in Taiwan rallied against the move and political tensions about the issue grew within the country.
Last week, as reports of potential action by the legislature circulated, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and USDA Undersecretary Jim Miller issued a joint statement saying, "The proposed amendment's provisions do not have a basis in science or fact and thus in no way serve to protect Taiwan's food supply. The Taiwan authorities should consider very carefully the impact that passage of the amendment in its current form would have on Taiwan's reputation as a reliable trading partner and responsible member of the international community."
Several groupsn and politicians have quickly issued statements expressing their dismay about this move by the Taiwanese.
American Meat Institute
AMI President J. Patrick Boyle registered strong objections today. "In taking this action, the government of Taiwan clearly is failing to live up to its obligations under the bilateral agreement between our governments to expand beef trade," he said. "U.S. beef is among the safest anywhere and data show a record of sustained food safety progress. There is simply no scientific basis for Taiwan's action and at this point, we must question the seriousness of their commitment to being a reliable trading partner and member of the World Trade Organization."
National Cattlemen's Beef Association:
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is extremely disappointed that Taiwan has reversed its decision on a carefully negotiated science-based bilateral beef trade protocol. Despite a recent agreement to allow a full reopening of the Taiwan market to U.S. beef, Taiwanese lawmakers announced this morning that additional restrictions would be placed on U.S. beef imports, due to alleged safety concerns.
"In our view, the issues expressed by politicians in Taiwan have absolutely no basis in scientific fact and fly in the face of Taiwan's own risk assessment," said Gregg Doud, NCBA chief economist. "To suggest that there are any safety concerns related to U.S. beef is outrageous."
After two years of negotiations, the U.S. and Taiwan reached an agreement, finalized in October, which would have brought Taiwan into compliance with science-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines, thus allowing imports of U.S. beef and beef products from cattle of all ages. Taiwan appears to have disregarded sound science and ignored the agreement by placing additional restrictions on beef and beef product sales to Taiwan.
"This is a purely domestic political issue in Taiwan," said Doud. "U.S. beef producers are sick and tired of being used as a political football." Click here to read the full statement released by the NCBA on Tuesday afternoon
US Meat Export Federation-
Taiwan's legislature today passed an amendment to its food sanitation law that will ban the import of all ground beef and offals from the United States, as well as any country that has had a BSE case, for a period of 10 years from that country's most recent case. The legislature also approved a resolution to restrict U.S. beef imports to products derived from cattle less than 30 months of age. While this resolution is nonbinding, Taiwan may implement changes to its import requirements that reflect the resolution's intent.
"The action taken by Taiwan's legislature is very disappointing and has no scientific basis whatsoever," said U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng. "Before expanding beef trade with the United States in October of last year, Taiwan's best scientists determined the safety of U.S. beef through a thorough and extensive risk assessment. That effort has now been largely cast aside, as this policy shows no regard for OIE guidelines or the controlled risk status held by both the United States and Taiwan with regard to BSE."
Seng also noted that the blanket inclusion of ground beef and offals in this action is inappropriate on several levels. There are no scientific concerns related to BSE regarding ground beef and offals as they are produced according to the same rigorous food safety regulations as other U.S. beef products.
The action by Taiwan's Legislative Yuan will ban the importation of skulls, brains, eyes, spinal cord, offals and ground beef from the United States and any country that has had a case of BSE until the 10th anniversary of that case. Of the three cases identified in the United States, the latest was found March 15, 2006.
On one positive note, neither action taken by the Taiwan legislature prohibits boneless or bone-in muscle cuts from under-30-month cattle. Since the new beef trade protocol between the U.S. and Taiwan was adopted in October, suppliers from the United States have voluntarily excluded ground beef and offal, limiting their shipments to under-30-month muscle cuts. Therefore, today's actions by Taiwan's parliament should not disrupt existing orders for U.S. beef.
"The recent addition of under-30-month bone-in cuts has allowed us to grow this market to some degree, and to satisfy the needs of more of our customers in Taiwan," Seng said. "While we now face nonscientific trade barriers that will hamper our ability to expand the range of U.S. products in this market over the long term, we want to assure consumers in Taiwan that we will continue to provide them with safe, high-quality U.S. beef."
Through October, Taiwan was the sixth-largest value market for U.S. beef exports at $114.3 million an increase of 6 percent over the same period in 2008. When year-end totals are available, exports to Taiwan are expected to surpass the all-time record of $128 million, set in 2008. On a value basis, the United States is Taiwan's largest beef supplier with a 40 percent share of the imported beef market.
Senator Blanche Lincoln, Chairman of the US Senate Ag Committee
"I am severely disappointed by Taiwan's decision to impose restrictions on imports of certain U.S. beef products, effectively reversing the agreement on this matter reached between the governments of the United States and Taiwan last October. Taiwan's own risk assessment, as well as studies conducted by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) and others, has proven that U.S. beef is safe. With this action, Taiwan has chosen to disregard sound science, therefore forcing us to question our ability to depend on them as a reliable trading partner. I have unwavering faith that the beef products produced in Arkansas and throughout the United States adhere to the highest health and safety standards in the world. This decision represents a serious setback in the U.S.-Taiwan trade relationship."
Senator Saxby Chambliss, Ranking Republican of the Senate Ag Committee
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today sent a letter to President Ma Ying-jeou expressing serious concern regarding a measure passed by Taiwan's Legislative Yuan that bars the import of certain U.S. beef and beef products. Sen. Chambliss said the action has no basis in sound science and represents a step backward in trade relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. The two countries came to a bilateral agreement just two months ago regarding expanded beef trade.
Full text of the letter to President Ma is below:
January 5, 2010
President Ma Ying-jeou
Taipei City 10048, Taiwan
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Dear President Ma:
I am writing to convey my serious concern regarding a measure passed by Taiwan's Legislative Yuan that bars the import of certain U.S. beef and beef products. The action has no basis in sound science and represents a step backward in trade relations between our two countries.
Two months ago, I was encouraged by a bilateral agreement concluded by the United States and Taiwan that would expand beef and beef products while adhering to the highest standards of food safety. The legislative amendment is a unilateral abrogation of that agreement and raises questions regarding good faith efforts to normalize trade in beef and beef products between our two countries.
While I understand the need to take measured steps to promote consumer confidence, Taiwan's actions may precipitate an alternative course of action by the United States Trade Representative to resolve this dispute. For the past several years, our government has provided all information necessary for Taiwan and other trading partners to make reasoned decisions regarding the safety of U.S. beef and beef products. The World Animal Health Organization has concluded that U.S. beef is safe and it is unacceptable that Taiwanese authorities imply otherwise.
It is time to base trade in beef and beef products on science and fact. It is also my sincere hope that Taiwan will implement the import protocol consistent with your country's obligations in the World Trade Organization and remove the provisions that are incompatible with the bilateral protocol. This would be in keeping with the strong relations our two countries have on this and other matters of importance.
Very truly yours,
Senator Saxby Chambliss
Ranking Republican Member
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