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Taiwan to Inspect U.S. Beef Facilities

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Taiwan will begin sending public health officials to conduct on-sight inspections of slaughterhouses processing beef which will be exported to the country, Focus Taiwan, a local newspaper reported.

According to Taiwan's Health Ministers Yaung Chih-liang, inspections, to begin in August or September of this year, will help ensure U.S. beef exports are appropriately labeled and meet Taiwanese regulations.

"Five to 10 slaughterhouses or packing facilities in the U.S. will be inspected by Taiwanese officials this time," Yaung said in response to a Central News Agency inquiry.

"In a meeting on the sidelines of the conference of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers held June 5-6 in Sapporo, Japan, U.S. officials told their Taiwanese counterparts that Washington would be happy to see Taipei speed up its examination procedures and customs clearance for U.S. beef imports," reported Focus Taiwan.

"The examination procedures and customs clearance will be able to become faster after the labeling problems are addressed," Yaung said.

Taiwan's complete ban of all U.S. beef began in 2003 after a cow in Yakima, WA was found to have Mad Cow Disease. In 2006, Taiwan allowed some beef U.S. imports, but not bone-in beef.

Taiwan's legislature relaxed legislation late last year that had previously banned imports of certain U.S. beef products, including skulls, brains, eyes, and internal organs of U.S. cattle. The country agreed to fully reopen its market to U.S. beef in incremental phases, which are underway.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on June 09, 2010 (boomark / email).