All beef sold in Taiwan to show country of origin
CNA
2012-09-07
16:04 (GMT+8)
The sign on the left has blank spaces to display the country of origin of the shop's beef. (Photo/Liu Tsung-lung)
All beef products sold in markets or restaurants in Taiwan are required to bear country-of-origin labels starting Sept. 12, the cabinet-level Department of Health said Thursday in an official notice.
Domestic and imported beef products sold at places such as supermarkets, convenience stores, grocery stores, wet markets and night markets are required to bear labels detailing their country of origin, said the Food and Drug Administration under the department.
Moreover, businesses should clearly separate beef products from other items, the FDA said, adding that restaurants or stands that sell products containing beef are also required to label the origin of the meat.
In addition, beginning from Sept. 20, packaged food containing beef pieces, such as beef instant noodles and beef jerky, are required to clearly label the meat's origin.
Businesses that do not label the origin of beef products face fines of between NT$30,000 (US$1,000) and NT$150,000 (US$5,000), according to the department.
Fines of between NT$40,000 and NT$200,000 (US$1,350-$6,700) could be imposed on people who use false labeling, it added.
The residue standard of ractopamine, which was supposed to be announced with the new regulations, is expected to be posted later as some businesses from Canada and Australia still hold different opinions on the issue, said Tsai Shu-chen, an FDA section chief.
The new regulations follow the Legislature's approval of amendments to the Act Governing Food Sanitation in late July that opened Taiwan's doors to imports of beef containing traces of ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing drug used in animal feed.
