Taiwan - Taiwan blocks US beef ban

Taiwan's legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng cast a key vote against the opposing parties' proposal to block off US beef imports altogether, after the opposing parties won the first round of voting by mobilising their legislators, yesterday.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), People First Party (PFP) and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) jointly raised a proposal to deshelve all US beef on the market in Taiwan, confiscate all US beef in customs, and halt all potential imports of US beef-related products.

The opposing parties surprised the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) by mobilising all their legislators for the proposal, passing it with 42 votes against 39, while two legislators abstained. Having passed the proposal, the legislators from the opposing parties broke out in applause.

Meanwhile, Wang remained solemn, and KMT Central Policy Committee Director Lin Hung-chih urgently requested a re-vote, reasoning that many KMT legislators were unable to show up during the original voting.

In the second round of voting, all 88 legislators were present, and supporting votes for the removal of US beef from Taiwan markets tied with those that disapproved at 44 against 44. Immediately when the tie was announced, DPP Legislators Ker Chien-ming, Kuan Bi-ling, Pan Men-an, and Chen Min-wen rushed up and confronted Wang at the rostrum.

The pan-green legislators argued that the result of the first round of voting should be acknowledged now that the second round lacked a consensus, a suggestion that the pan-blue legislators disagreed with. Wang announced a five-minute recess. When the session resumed, Wang pronounced, through his capacity as the legislative speaker, that he votes against the proposal.

This was the very first time Wang has voted in any legislative proposals as the speaker since he took up to the post in 1999.

Due to Wang's vote, the opposing parties' US beef removal proposal ended up not passing by a vote of 44-45.

Expert Finds Gov't Handling of US Beef Issue Inconsistent

National Taiwan University College of Public Health Deputy Dean as well as Director of the International Health centre Chan Chang-Chuan criticised yesterday that the Taiwanese government lacks consistency in handling the US beef issue.

When dealing with the leanness-enhancer controversy, the government argued for looking beyond international policies and import leanness-enhanced beef anyway; now that the US has reported a new case of mad cow disease, the government argues for a wait-and-see approach as to how the problem is dealt with internationally before banning US beef imports.

Such inconsistency in regulations shows a blatant disregard for the public's dietary safety on the government's part, Chan accused.

Mad Cow Is Individual Case: US

American Institute in Taiwan Spokesman Christopher Kavanagh acknowledged yesterday the fact that the US government sends its latest investigation results on mad cow disease to the Taiwan government every day.

Current investigation results revealed that the cow with the disease is 10 years old. No group infection was detected, and it has been deemed to be an individual case, staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Also, according to staff of the US Department of Agriculture, the farm where the mad cow disease was discovered has been quarantined.

OIE Standards Unchanged

Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta guaranteed on Thursday that if the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) heightens the U.S. mad cow disease risk status, Taiwan would immediately suspend imports of US beef and relevant products.

As of yesterday, the OIE has not announced any changes in the US' disease risk status, therefore the Taiwan government maintains its position on the case.

Grace Soong

The China Post

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