Ad’s focus on zero use of growth hormone in chicken accused of misleading public

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/03/04
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A McDonald’s Taiwan advertisement touting the quality of chicken used by the fast-food chain has sparked an outcry from poultry farmers across the country.

The Poultry Association of the Republic of China flagged an ad from McDonald's which emphasizes that the chicken it uses is completely free of growth hormone. Local farmers oppose the ad’s highlighting the issue, saying the practice has never been used in local poultry farming and the information could be misleading, wrote UDN.

According to Chiu Shi-en (邱時恩) from the association, it takes only 35 days for chicken bred in Taiwan to grow to full size and become ready for slaughter thanks to breeding improvements over the years. There is no need to apply growth stimulation methods, which are both costly and impractical, he stressed.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/04/2020
By: Yu Hsiao-han and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, March 4 (CNA) Taiwanese startup carrier StarLux Airlines said Wednesday that it will suspend its daily round-trip flights to Penang, Malaysia, from March 8 to the end of April amid the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic.

The airline, which started operation on Jan. 23, said it will resume the service depending on market demand and how the epidemic unfolds.

UPBEAT: About 60 percent of AmCham members voiced confidence in Taiwan’s economic growth this year and the government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 05, 2020
By: Crystal Hsu  /  Staff reporter

Most US companies in Taiwan are optimistic about the nation’s economy this year and beyond,

saying the COVID-19 outbreak would not affect firms in the manufacturing industry and the effect on the service sector would likely be short-lived, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham) said yesterday.

About 60 percent of respondents in a survey of AmCham members expressed confidence in Taiwan’s economic growth in the next 12 months, a sharp increase from 46 percent last year.

“The level of confidence would likely have been higher, if not for the coronavirus outbreak that erupted during the survey period” from January to Feb. 17, AmCham chairman C.W. Chin (金奇偉) said.

While a phase 1 trade deal between the US and China helped lift sentiment, Taiwan’s progress on energy and labor policies, as well as its regulatory framework, also lent support, Chin said.
[FULL  STORY]

President Tsai Ing-wen met with Australian envoy in Taiwan Gary Cowan on Mar. 3

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/03/03
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwanese government is seeking a trade pact with Australia.

Meeting with the Australian representative in Taiwan, Gary Cowan, on Tuesday morning (Mar. 3), President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) urged the two countries to start negotiations for an Economic Cooperation Agreement, adding that the new pact would further enhance trade ties between the two countries.

Taiwan and Australia have enjoyed close trade cooperation over the years, said Tsai. She went on to cite a deal from earlier this year that allows the two countries to mutually recognize organically certified products as an example of the robust bilateral relationship.

The incumbent president expressed appreciation to the Australian authorities for voicing their support for Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations, particularly the World Health Organization (WHO), amid the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has sickened more than 90,000 people and killed over 3,100. She also extended her condolences to those impacted by the bushfires that raged in the Pacific nation earlier this year.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/02/2020
By: Chang Hsiung-feng and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, March 2 (CNA) Australia has opened its doors to imports of Taiwan-grown pineapples after nearly five years of consultations between agricultural authorities of the two countries, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) said Monday.

Australia's Department of Agriculture issued an official notice on its website Monday that it permits imports of Taiwan-grown fresh pineapples, with immediate effect, the COA said in a statement.

The COA said that after nearly five years of effort, including providing scientific evidence and having Australian officials visit Taiwan to verify the evidence, Taiwan has overcome Australian quarantine barriers to open a new market for its home-grown fruit.

Taiwan filed an application for market access to the Australian fresh pineapple fruit market in April 2015 by submitting documents on the country's pineapple farming, cultivation and processing techniques and its export record, the COA said.    [FULL  STORY\]

Taiwan's farmers set to suffer as expo is main showcase for nation's orchid products

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/29
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2020 Taiwan International Orchid Show slated to take place in March will be delayed due to Wuhan coronavirus fears (COVID-19), Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) announced on Friday (Feb. 28).

“Disease prevention overrides all other things,” said Huang of the decision to postpone the event. Taiwan is a major orchid exporter and the expo was scheduled to be held between March 7-16, in the southern city of Tainan.

According to Huang, the cancellation is likely to cause considerable losses to farmers and the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association, the event organizer. Last year the expo showcased 1,504 orchids, attracted 210,000 visitors, and saw the participation of exhibitors from 43 countries.

The 2019 event raked in NT$17 million (US$564,000) in ticket sales. It also secured export orders worth more than NT$11.3 billion to be delivered in three to five years, reported CNA.
[FULL  STORY]