BALANCING ACT:If it is the nation’s goal to join the TPP, the interests of the public and the demands of industry must be taken into consideration, Tung Chen-yuan said

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 26, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter, with CNA

Executive Yuan spokesman-designate Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) yesterday said the incoming government would establish an intra-ministerial negotiation mechanism to discuss issues concerning imports of US pork with ractopamine residue, pledging that the public’s food safety would not be sacrificed.

Tung made the remarks in Taipei amid growing speculation that president-elect Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration plans to allow imports of US pork containing residues of the leanness-promoting feed additive after she is sworn in on May 20.

Tung said it is too early to talk about opening the nation’s doors to US pork containing ractopamine because Tsai’s administration has yet to begin evaluations of the policy.

“It is the government’s goal and the wish of Taiwanese that the nation join the Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP] trade agreement, but the administration must take into consideration both the public’s food safety and the interests of concerned industries,” Tung said.

Tsai’s administration would not enter into negotiations over imports of US pork containing ractopamine until four objectives are achieved, Tung said.     [FULL  STORY]