TAIPEI: Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday that the government's decision to lift a ban on imports of US bone-in beef products is not linked to any broader trade deal, and gave the assurance that his administration would not sacrifice people's health for economic benefits.

In an interview with a local weekly, The Journalist, Ma said that the lifting of the ban on US beef represented the removal of a major barrier between Taiwan and the United States.

He denied allegations that the government decided to lift the restrictions in exchange for the resumption of US-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks.

Asked about the rationale behind the decision, Ma said that as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Taiwan cannot disregard other members' requests for reciprocity.

He stressed that the restrictions were lifted after taking into account the health and safety of the Taiwan population. Taiwan still maintains stricter standards for US beef imports than South Korea does, he noted.

Ma said the easing of the restrictions on US beef imports is expected to help boost relations between Taiwan and the United States.

"The relaxation of the import restrictions on US beef products does not mean that the government is obliged to promote the products," the president added.

He also said that if Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin opts to adopt stricter measures in the city regarding US beef imports, that would be his choice.

"However, I guarantee there would be no problem if he eats US beef products," Ma said.

Moreover, he noted, a health insurance measure will be introduced to help allay public fears.

"We have never said there is zero risk involved in easing the ban, but the level of risk is acceptable from a professional standpoint," Ma said.

Touching on the possible impact of the decision on the local beef industry, Ma said that in light of the fact that domestic beef accounts for 7 percent of the market share in Taiwan, the expansion of US imports would not significantly impact local beef producers. However, it could affect imports of New Zealand and Australian beef, he added.

Ma said the US had hoped that Taiwan would open its market fully to US beef imports, but after all-out efforts by the negotiators, it was decided that only bone-in beef, ground beef and offal from cattle younger than 30 months would be allowed to enter Taiwan.

Following the dispute arising from the government's decision to allow imports of US bone-in beef and offal to Taiwan, new concern that genetically modified US rice might be next to gain permission to enter Taiwan prompted a denial from the head of the Council of Agriculture (COA) yesterday.

COA chief Chen Wu-hsiung issued the denial to reporters following a news report on Tuesday night that quoted an official of the Department of Health (DOH) as saying that Taiwan is ready to open its market to genetically engineered rice from the United States.

"The COA will not take the liberalization measure that would allow such rice from the United States to enter Taiwan," Chen said, adding, "I will step down if imports of US genetically engineered rice are permitted."

"The COA has 'absolutely no plans' to allow such opening," he stressed.

In response to the news report, the COA's Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) issued a statement later that day to clarify that the government will not open the market to imports of genetically modified rice, nor has it approved any such products for entry into Taiwan.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 10/29/2009 page2)