TAIPEI: The first batch of US bone-in beef will arrive in Taiwan today and the Bureau of Standards, Meteorology and Inspection (BSMI) hopes to complete its inspection of the product within three days, a bureau official said yesterday.

The bureau, in collaboration with the Department of Heath, will check the beef shipment in accordance with food inspection procedures to ensure that the product is safe for local consumption, according to BSMI Deputy Director-General Huang Lai-ho.

The procedure will begin with checks to make sure that the product conforms to the information on the accompanying certificates, Huang said.

According to US law, American beef exporters are required to submit three Quality System Assessment (QSA) certificates issued by the US Department of Agriculture - beef safety certificates, quarantine certificates, and beef export certificate - for shipments to Taiwan, Huang noted.

A temperature check will then be carried out before the shipping crates are opened, to ensure that all refrigerated or frozen products are kept at the correct temperature to avoid the risk of cross contamination or food poisoning.

BSMI inspectors will then take samples for laboratory testing, mainly to determine the microbiological condition of the beef and whether it contains any drug or chemical residues, Hsu added.

BSMI inspectors will work extra hours during the upcoming weekend in an effort to finish the checks in three days, as the DOH's deadline for completion of all inspection procedures is five days, he added.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 01/15/2010 page2)