Focus Taiwan
Date: 09/09/2020
By: Yang Shu-min and William Yen

Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) A pig farmers association called on the government Wednesday to guarantee stable domestic pig prices ahead of the implementation of its policy to allow the importation of American meat containing residues of the livestock drug ractopamine.

The NT$10 billion pledged by the government to subsidize domestic pig farmers should be used exclusively to buy live pigs when the price falls below breeding costs, Lin Cheng-te (林承德), a managing supervisor of the R.O.C. Swine Association, said at a forum to discuss the issue.

He expressed worry that when the new government policy takes effect in January next year, consumers will stop buying pork of any kind to avoid eating meat that contains ractopamine.

While the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture (COA) has said it will ensure that live pig prices remain above NT$65 (US$2.22) per kilogram, as the cost of pig feed tends to fluctuate, which affects farmers' profit margins, Lin said.    [FULL  STORY]