Taiwan to test 1,000 pieces of beef, pork, duck and goose for clenbuterol

It has been reported that beef, pork, duck, goose and other meat products may contain clenbuterol. The Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health announced on the 16th that a month of enhanced inspections and random tests will be carried out across Taiwan starting from the 20th. 22 counties and cities will simultaneously sample 1,000 commercially available meat products, including 500 pieces of beef, 400 pieces of pork, and 100 pieces of duck and goose products. Those found to contain clenbuterol will have their information released immediately, and the violators will be dealt with according to the law.

The Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health announced that it will sample 1,000 pieces of commercially available beef, pork, duck, goose and other meat products.

Kang Zhaozhou, director of the Food and Drug Administration, said that in order to allow the public to eat meat with peace of mind, after emergency consultations with the directors of health bureaus of county and city governments, it was decided that in addition to continuing the 101st market animal drug residue monitoring program, the program would be expanded to include sampling of 1,000 commercially available beef, pork, and other duck and goose products from major stores, supermarkets, traditional markets, and restaurants. The sampling ratio was based on past detection ratios, so beef was the largest item, followed by pork.

Kang Zhaozhou admitted that the number of random tests this time far exceeded the routine workload, and he would fully mobilize the inspection and testing manpower so that the public could obtain the test results as soon as possible. The health bureaus of various counties and cities would also immediately announce the information on unqualified tests. He reiterated that current domestic regulations still do not allow the detection of clenbuterol, and violators will be dealt with according to the law.

In addition to testing for clenbuterol, this time the beef sold on the market will also be checked to see whether the country of origin and product name are marked, and to verify its proof of origin.

As for expanding border inspections, Kang Zhaozhou said that the types and origins of imported beef that have been reported to violate regulations must be inspected 100% batch by batch. However, if the importer passes five consecutive batches of beef inspections, the inspection ratio can be gradually reduced to 20%. If another five consecutive batches pass the inspection, the inspection ratio can be further reduced to 5%. On the contrary, if unqualified batches are found, 100% inspection will be restored.

Kang Zhaozhou said that it is expected that border inspections on imported beef will be expanded next week, but the exact implementation timetable has not been determined. Currently, the operation method is being coordinated with the customs, and the relevant regulations have been informed to the exporting countries. This plan will be combined with a large-scale sampling operation of commercially available meat, and relevant policies will be adjusted after one month.