During the opening ceremony of the 2005 Taipei International Food Show, US official Douglas Paal ate US beef in front of reporters to prove that it was safe in a response to concerns over a possible new outbreak of BSE disease in the USA.
Taiwan banned US beef imports in December 2003 after the US reported its first case of mad cow disease. The ban was partially lifted in March this year since and US cattle aged 30 months or less, with brains and spinal cords removed, has been imported since.
Since a new BSE case has recently surfaced in the USA, the Taiwanese government has faced angry demands from the public to bring back the ban, but has rejected the call.
"The return of American beef after a 15-month absence from the Taiwan market demonstrates the excellent working relationship and cooperation that exists between Taiwan authorities and the US Department of Agriculture," said Douglas Paal.
The USA is Taiwan's third largest beef supplier, selling some 14,000 tonnes or $55 million worth of beef in 2002 and 19,225 tonnes worth $76 million in 2003.
