Taipei Times
Date: Apr 05, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) on Monday said that it was
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung answers lawmakers’ questions at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on March 20. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
not up to him whether to lift a ban on imports of US pork containing ractopamine, but added that he was responsible for ensuring that food is safe for consumers.
Taipei again came under pressure from Washington on the issue of pork in a report on foreign trade barriers issued by the Office of the US Trade Representative on Friday last week insisting that Taiwan respect maximum residue limits established for ractopamine — a leanness-enhancing feed additive prohibited in Taiwan — in pork.
Chen had earlier told the media that he would not oppose lifting the ban on US pork as long as safety could be ensured.
“If it is not safe, the ban cannot be lifted because of political considerations,” he said. [FULL STORY]
