VZCZCXRO9098
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHIN #1951/01 2361100
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 241100Z AUG 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6530
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7167
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8849
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9013
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 2055
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0492
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 8422
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1307
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 6024
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001951 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/24/2032 
TAGS: ETRD PFOR TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN OFFICIALS PLODDING FORWARD ON RACTOPAMINE 
ISSUE DESPITE DOMESTIC PRESSURES 
 
 
Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
¶1.  (C)  Summary:  Taiwan senior officials told the Director 
on August 23 and 24 that the issue of ractopamine residues in 
U.S. pork imports to Taiwan is "very sensitive" for the DPP 
administration in an election year, but pledged that the 
government is doing all it can to quietly resolve the issue. 
Premier Chang emphasized that he will need some time to forge 
a policy consensus and convince the majority of people on 
Taiwan that ractopamine in low levels is safe.  Chang 
suggested that Taiwan is looking to the so-called "Japan 
model," which establishes an MRL on U.S. pork imports while 
continuing the prohibition on domestic use.  Presidential 
Office Secretary-General Yeh told the Director that the 
administration is working to diffuse the pressure from farmer 
associations and legislators who want to continue the ban on 
ractopamine.  She added that it will take some time to 
emphasize the scientific basis and conformity with 
international practices before any new standards are 
announced by Taiwan.  COA Chairman Su told the Director he is 
trying to lower the decibel level by carrying out a series of 
educational meetings with hog farmers planned for August 
27-29, but predicted the possibility for immediate success is 
slim.  Opponents of lifting the ban tell AIT they will 
continue to fight the administration's efforts to apply 
international scientific standards to Taiwan.  End Summary. 
 
Officials Ask for Time 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C)  In meetings with Premier Chang Chun-hsiung and 
Presidential Office Secretary-General Yeh Chu-lan on August 
23 and August 24, respectively, the Director expressed deep 
concern over the recent politicization of the food safety of 
U.S. pork imports to Taiwan.  The Director noted that the 
Taiwan media has twisted perceptions about trade pressure and 
U.S. pork safety despite nearly ten years of imports since 
ractopamine was approved in the U.S.  He urged the 
administration to move quickly in establishing and approving 
new guidelines that are in accord with international, 
scientific standards.  He also urged Taiwan to underscore the 
health safety of those standards, noting that AIT has issued 
its own OpEd piece addressing the safety issue.  The Director 
cautioned about strong U.S. industry and Congressional 
reaction should the ractopamine issue go unresolved much 
longer. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Premier Chang told the Director that the ractopamine 
is "very sensitive" for the DPP administration in an election 
year.  Chang said that nevertheless the Executive Yuan is 
doing all it can to quietly resolve the issue.  He emphasized 
that he will need some time to forge a policy consensus and 
convince the majority of people on Taiwan that ractopamine in 
low levels is safe.  To try to diffuse the situation and 
preserve the government's good relationship with the Taiwan 
domestic farmer and pig raiser's associations, Chang noted he 
had instructed Council of Agriculture (COA) Chairman Su 
Jia-chyuan to do a post-typhoon inspection of Taitung county 
during the protests in Taipei on August 21. 
 
¶4.  (C)  The government's number one priority is ensuring 
Taiwan's food safety, Chang noted, and the EY has a good 
understanding of the scientific and health issues regarding 
ractopamine.  Chang said he has instructed the Department of 
Health (DOH) to publicize the facts on ractopamine's safety, 
emphasizing that as a substance allowed under WTO regulations 
Taiwan has an obligation to abide by international agreements 
and world health and safety standards.  Chang suggested that 
Taiwan is looking to the so-called "Japan model," which 
establishes an MRL on U.S. pork imports while continuing the 
prohibition on domestic use. 
 
¶5.  (C)  Secretary-General Yeh Chu-lan told the Director that 
the administration is taking a "delaying tactic" to diffuse 
the pressure from farmer associations and legislators who 
want to continue the ban on U.S. pork imports with 
ractopamine.  She emphasized that the administration cannot 
appear to be revising its zero-tolerance policy on 
ractopamine in response to U.S. as that would only further 
 
TAIPEI 00001951  002 OF 002 
 
 
provoke protests and opposition to U.S imports.  She added 
that it will take some time to emphasize the scientific basis 
and conformity with international practices before any new 
standards are announced by Taiwan.  Yeh did not present a 
timeline of government action, but suggested it would not 
come before the open of the UN CODEX Committee on Residues of 
Veterinary Drugs in Foods on September 3. 
 
¶6.  (C)  COA Chairman Su Jia-chyuan told the Director on 
August 24 that he is under a great deal of pressure from 
farmers and legislators not to remove the ban on domestic 
use.  Su said he is trying to lower the decibel level by 
carrying out a series of educational meetings with hog 
farmers planned for August 27-29, but predicted the 
possibility for an immediate success is very slim.  Su 
repeatedly emphasized that gaining producer support will take 
time, while pointing out that the most difficult aspect 
remains political.  The Director told Su that Taiwan must be 
careful about how much time this takes.  If measured in 
weeks, this would probably be okay for managing fallout, 
including from U.S. industry and Congress.  If it takes 
months, he indicated the issue is bound to spill over with 
negative impact on an already-strained political 
relationship. 
 
Opponents Vow to Keep Up the Fight 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) TSU legislator and consumer advocate Lai Hsing-yuan 
on August 24 told AIT that strong political forces are lining 
up against the Chen administration and its effort to lift the 
ban on ractopamine.  Lai, who was a leading figure in the 
ban-U.S. beef movement last year and who is a leading 
spokesperson for the ban-ractopamine movement now, told AIT 
that she and other legislators intend to do all they can both 
now and in the fall legislative session beginning September 7 
to "protect Taiwan consumers" and prevent 
"ractopamine-tainted" pork from entering Taiwan.  Lai 
vehemently insisted that the Taiwan government's premier 
responsibility is to provide "the highest safety standards 
for Taiwan consumers" rather than observe an obligation to 
abide by international health and safety standards.  Lai 
particularly opposes the DOH proposal to impose separate 
ractopamine MRLs on imported and domestic pork, arguing this 
would destroy the Taiwan pork industry. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.  (C)  Domestic political pressure on the Chen 
administration has been mounting after the DOH's public 
statement last week notifying its intention to establish a 
tolerance for ractopamine in meat products.  On our part, we 
have made our case repeatedly to senior Taiwan officials, 
including President Chen himself.  Taiwan officials are well 
aware of U.S. concerns and have pledged to nudge compliance 
with international standards forward.  Nonetheless, domestic 
pressure on the government has continued to grow in a 
critical election year.  Given the heated political emotions 
that this issue has evoked here, we'll need Washington's help 
to avoid a strong, immediate reaction from U.S. industry and 
Congress that could prove counterproductive and hamper 
ongoing efforts to work through this issue. 
YOUNG