Heavy rain brings disaster! The Consumers' Foundation urges both parties to postpone the vote on US beef

Heavy rains have caused disasters across Taiwan. The Legislative Yuan was originally scheduled to vote on the "Food Sanitation Management Act Amendment Bill" today, the 12th. There may be changes, but many groups are still gathering outside the venue, asking legislators to vote against it. The Consumers Culture and Education Foundation applied to enter the venue to observe the trial and called on the two parties to negotiate to postpone the vote on the US beef bill and refer to the conclusion of the Codex Alimentarius Commission at the beginning of next month before responding.

Chen Zhiyi, secretary-general of the Consumers' Culture and Education Foundation, called on the two parties to negotiate and postpone the vote on the U.S. beef bill, and to refer to the conclusion of the Codex Alimentarius Commission at the beginning of next month before responding. (Photography by Zhang Yawen)

The KMT caucus has mobilized strongly, hoping to vote on the Esophageal Act, which is related to the lifting of the ban on beef containing ractopamine, before the Legislative Yuan adjourns on the 15th, and has threatened to launch a "raid" at any time. Therefore, the DPP caucus has been protesting by occupying the podium since yesterday, and even stayed overnight in the parliament. However, as heavy rains have caused serious disasters in various places, many legislators from both parties have rushed back to their constituencies to inspect the disasters, and the House meeting today may suspend deliberations.

However, in the early morning rain, many groups opposing the opening of American beef with ractopamine gathered at the entrance of the Legislative Yuan. Some people held up signs and shouted loudly: "Oppose ractopamine, legislators should not enter the meeting!" Some people even threw cow dung at the entrance of the Legislative Yuan, shouting: "Taiwanese cow dung is healthier than toxic beef!"

A group opposing the opening of American beef to ractopamine has gathered in front of the Legislative Yuan. In order to protest against American beef containing ractopamine, they even threw cow dung at the gate of the Legislative Yuan. (Photography by Zhang Yawen)

The Consumer Foundation team applied to enter the parliament to observe the trial. Secretary-General Chen Zhiyi said that civil groups have repeatedly explained through press conferences that the breeding methods of American beef are not only unable to escape the threat of mad cow disease, but the unnecessary lean meat stimulant "ractopamine" used to increase lean meat cannot be proven to be safe for human health. By on-site supervision, they want to pay attention to which legislators are truly defending consumer health on behalf of consumers.

As heavy rains caused serious disasters, Chen Zhiyi also called on legislators from both parties to negotiate. Postponing the vote on American beef is the best way. On the one hand, they should focus on disaster relief. On the other hand, the Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting will be held in early July. This committee spent four years evaluating ractopamine in a scientific way. He called on legislators from both parties to wait until such an international and scientific conclusion comes out before discussing American beef.