Limits vary according to animal part, taking into account local dietary habits, risk evaluations, international law

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/09/05
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) on Saturday (Sept. 5) revealed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for ractopamine in U.S. pork and offal, eight days after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) announced the nation would broaden market access to American pork and beef.

The executive order scraps import restrictions on U.S. beef from cattle over 30 months old and on U.S. pork containing ractopamine. It is set to take effect from Jan. 1, 2021.

The health ministry has established MRLs for the controversial feed additive used to promote leanness in U.S. pork products. The regulated limits vary according to the animal part and are based on local dietary habits, professional risk evaluations, as well as international health standards.

According to Saturday's announcement, the MRLs for U.S. pork, which includes skin and fat, is 0.01 ppm; 0.04 ppm for the kidney; 0.04 ppm for the liver; 0.01 ppm for other edible parts including stomach, intestine, heart, lung, tongue, brain, and blood.    [FULL  STORY]