Taipei, March 7 (CNA) The Consumers’ Foundation on Friday expressed opposition to a draft revision to regulations on Japanese beef imports that, if enacted, would permit the importation of beef from cattle of any age.
“The risk of mad cow disease in Japanese cattle still exists,” the Taipei-based foundation issued a statement responding to a proposal made by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) three days earlier.
Given the long incubation period of mad cow disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and its tendency to affect cattle over five years old, the foundation warned that removing age restrictions could expose consumers to infected meat, potentially leading to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human variant of BSE.
Under the current rules, beef from Japan must come from cattle under 30 months old, be inspected by a veterinary officer, and be produced by an officially recognized factory.
However, the TFDA said Tuesday that it aims to amend the import regulations for Japanese beef and its products by removing the age restriction, aligning with its regulatory practices on U.S. and Canadian beef.
The foundation argued that Japan has reported over 10 cases of mad cow disease since 2001.
Additionally, the foundation criticized the government for not clearly explaining the reason behind the revision.
It also raised concerns about a possible connection between the proposed beef import policy and Taiwan’s ongoing negotiations for an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan.
“If the import of Japanese beef from cattle of all ages is being used as a bargaining chip to secure a Taiwan-Japan EPA, it raises concerns about sacrificing public health for economic development,” the foundation said.
In response, TFDA Director-General Chiang Chih-kang (姜至剛) told reporters that the risk assessment and safety reviews had been thorough, emphasizing that “disregarding expert opinions would not be in the best interest of the public.”
He pointed out that in addition to written reviews, three expert meetings were held between 2019 and 2021; and in 2021, an on-site inspection was conducted at Japanese beef production facilities.
Chiang also noted that while imported beef constitutes 90 percent of Taiwan’s market, Japanese beef makes up just 1.4 percent of imports.
He emphasized that Japan has not reported a BSE case since 2009 and that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has classified Japan as a “negligible-risk” country, meaning all cattle age groups and parts are considered safe for trade.
The proposed amendments to the regulations on bovine imports from Japan are undergoing a 60-day review period, during which time members of the public may submit their opinions.
