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Reuters

Taiwan’s legislature on Thursday approved measures that pave the way for imports of US pork containing a leanness-enhancing additive, despite objections by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party which says the move is a health risk.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s decision in August to permit imports of US pork containing ractopamine, banned in the European Union and China, has roiled Taiwan politics.
The KMT has staged noisy protests and flung pig entrails in the legislature on one occasion last month to protest against the plans.
The government says nobody will be forced to eat the pork and that the move brings Taiwan into line with international norms. Major Taiwanese food firms have already pledged not to sell pork made with ractopamine.
In Taiwan’s pig country, decision on US pork divides families
But with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party having a majority in the legislature, the KMT was never going to be able to block the administrative measures that allow ractopamine pork.
“Ractopamine pork is poison pork,” KMT lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao told the legislature, holding up a large sign reading the same message.
Premier Su Tseng-chang said the government would protect people’s health.
“We have seen that importers have publicly said they will not import ractopamine pork,” he added.
The KMT cancelled plans for public protests against the decision outside the legislature after Taiwan reported on Tuesday its first locally transmitted Covid-19 case since April.
The issue is extremely sensitive for Taiwan’s government as the United States is the island’s most important international backer and supplier of arms.
Taiwan’s government hopes the easing of US pork imports will pave the way for a long-hoped for free trade deal with Washington. The de facto US embassy in Taiwan has decried “disinformation” from politicians about food safety.
Pork is Taiwan’s most popular meat, with average per capita consumption of around 40kg (88lbs). Most pork consumed in Taiwan is domestically reared.


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Taiwan

Taiwan paves way for imports of additive-fed US pork

Pork is Taiwan’s most popular meat, with average per capita consumption of around 40kg. Photo: Reuters

In Taiwan’s pig country, decision on US pork divides families

Pingtung in southern Taiwan is pig farming heartland and farmers there are bracing for the effects of American pork imports. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan protesters rally against easing in US pork imports

People attend the annual pro-labour march “Autumn Struggle” to protest against the lifting of restrictions on US pork containing ractopamine feed additive, in Taipei on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Kuomintang (KMT) party chairman Johnny Chiang (front row C) and former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou (front centre R wearing face mask) lead party members and supporters during the annual pro-labor march 'Autumn Struggle' to protest against the lifting of restrictions on US pork containing ractopamine feed additive, in Taipei on November 22, 2020. (Photo by HSU Tsun-hsu / AFP)

Fists and pig guts fly and opponents hog the floor in Taiwan parliament debate over US pork imports

Taiwan lawmakers throw pork intestines at each other during a scuffle in the parliament in Taipei, Taiwan, on Friday, November 27. Photo: Reuters

Pork intestines and other organs are seen on the ground after Taiwan lawmakers threw the parts at each other during a scuffle in the parliament in Taipei, Taiwan, November 27, 2020. REUTERS/Ann Wang

News

China

Diplomacy


Legislature approves measures that would allow meat with leanness-enhancing ractopamine to enter the island’s market
Government says move brings Taiwan in line with international norms but opposition says it is a health risk



Legislature approves measures that would allow meat with leanness-enhancing ractopamine to enter the island’s market.


US-China relations

Tsai Ing-wen