100% batch-by-batch inspection of imported cattle with illegal records

The Executive Yuan's Food Safety Crisis Management Group made a resolution on the morning of the 16th to expand border inspections on imported beef. For those with a history of violations, 100% batch-by-batch inspections will be carried out, but for those with no violation records, the normal inspection standard of 5% will be maintained.

Starting next week, border inspection standards for imported beef with a history of violations will be increased to 100%. (Photography by Zhang Yawen)

The Food Safety Crisis Management Group is convened by Vice Premier Jiang Yi-huah, and participating units include the Department of Health, Council of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Affairs and other relevant ministries and commissions. The group will discuss three issues: border inspection, inspection of commercial meat products, and avian influenza epidemics in chickens.

Jiang Yihua confirmed that the Department of Health will conduct batch-by-batch inspections on imported beef that has violated regulations starting next week. He said that in the past, border inspections only randomly sampled 5%, but for those that were found to be unqualified five times in total, the inspection ratio will be increased to 20%. After evaluation, it was decided to adjust the inspection practices starting next week. For those with no past violation records, the 5% inspection standard will be maintained. For those with a violation record, the rate will be directly increased to 100%. It will only be reduced to 20% after 5 consecutive batches have passed. After another 5 consecutive batches have passed, the inspection rate will be restored to the normal 5%.

Jiang Yihua said that this is an extraordinary measure for extraordinary times, and he hopes to restore the public's confidence in food safety in the shortest possible time. However, he also emphasized that even if the border inspection standards are raised from 5% to 100%, it does not mean that every piece of beef eaten by the public has been inspected, so inspections will still be strengthened on the market side.