Civic groups rise up in anger against ractopamine pork; Consumers' Foundation harshly criticizes government high-handedness, launches petition boycott, and will hold a major march in November

Today (the 20th), the Consumers' Foundation, Chinese Taipei, together with the National Alliance of Parents' Associations, the civic group Coalition Against US Pork, and other civic groups, held a press conference opposing "ractopamine," launching a nationwide petition to "oppose the import of ractopamine pork." They also called on consumers to launch a refusal-to-eat campaign, and are expected to hold a major march against ractopamine pork on November 22.

Consumers' Foundation chairperson Lei Li-fen stated that research on ractopamine is incomplete, and that the president setting maximum residue limits by executive order violates society's consensus on food safety; consumers have the right to know and the right to oppose this. Lei Li-fen stressed that the government insists on opening the door to ractopamine pork imports yet is unwilling to require labeling on food products; the Consumers' Foundation will join with civic groups to launch a refusal-to-eat campaign and comprehensively reject US pork and US beef, expressing deep protest.

Consumer action against ractopamine pork: health risks remain a concern, yet the government made the most high-handed decision

Consumers' Foundation secretary-general Wu Jung-ta stated that more than one hundred countries around the world reject ractopamine pork, yet we have chosen the decision of a minority of countries. During the expert consultation meetings, the majority of experts raised concerns, yet the government still adopted the minority opinion; offal poses the greatest safety concern, yet we have chosen to import it. Ractopamine poses higher risks to children, pregnant women, and patients, yet the government made the most high-handed decision.

Li Chien-cheng, spokesperson for the civic Coalition Against Ractopamine-Tainted Pork, criticized the risk assessment commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and conducted by Professor Li Chun-chang of National Cheng Kung University as deeply problematic; it failed to convene a food risk assessment consultation committee in accordance with Article 4 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, making the procedure illegal and requiring it to be redone. In addition, for various high-risk groups, schoolchildren, and elderly care centers, there is a lack of further legal supporting measures; insisting on opening the door on New Year's Day next year under such circumstances raises grave concerns.

Civic Coalition Against Ractopamine: if there is scientific research evidence, arbitration can still be sought under the WTO framework

Yesterday, whether ractopamine pork imports should be given a separate tariff line to facilitate source management triggered a fierce battle between the ruling and opposition parties in the Legislative Yuan's Economics Committee. Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua stated that giving ractopamine pork a separate tariff line would, within the WTO framework, invite challenges of violating fairness and necessity, and would also obstruct trade negotiations for Taiwan's participation in regional economic integration.

Li Chien-cheng criticized Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua's claim that "rejecting ractopamine pork would cause problems in the WTO" as alarmist. Under the WTO's SPS Agreement, stricter standards than those of CODEX (the Codex Alimentarius Commission) may be adopted, and scientific evidence of health concerns may be submitted to apply for arbitration.

Li Chien-cheng stated that because animal experiments show harm and human trials are insufficient, the European Union still does not permit the import of pork containing ractopamine. In the United States, the Consumers Union has also demanded that the FDA remove ractopamine from permitted use; when the international community is broadly opposed, our government should not, in disregard of conscience, open the door to ractopamine pork imports. In 2015, domestic research in Taiwan, China also confirmed that ractopamine is harmful to health, affecting reproduction, kidney cells, nerves, and neural development.