Beef labeling is mandatory in Taipei City, with colors used to distinguish the origin

The controversy over American beef is expected to be settled in the near future. The Legislative Yuan's extraordinary session is expected to review the amendment to the Food Sanitation Management Act on the 25th of tomorrow, which will include "mandatory labeling" of meat products into the law. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin today displayed the "beef production map" designed by the city government, which distinguishes different production areas by color, emphasizing that the public can see at a glance and make their choices with confidence.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin today displayed the "beef production map" designed by the city government, distinguishing different production areas by color, emphasizing that the public can see at a glance and make their choices with confidence. (Photo courtesy of Taipei City Health Bureau)

The Legislative Yuan held a talk show today and confirmed that the Securities Transaction Tax and the Esophageal Act will be listed as the first and second cases tomorrow. In addition to conditionally opening up the import of beef containing ractopamine, the revised Esophageal Act also officially provides the legal basis for "mandatory labeling" of the origin of meat for restaurants and other direct food supply places.

Mayor Hau Lung-bin said that current laws regulate the font size of food packaging, which must not be less than 2 mm in length and width. However, for many elderly people or housewives, this size is still easy to overlook. Therefore, the Taipei City Government will cooperate with the Legislative Yuan to amend the law and re-establish administrative rules to require that the font size of bulk American beef packaging be enlarged to the most stringent standards in the country, especially the "origin" part, to facilitate consumers to clearly identify it.

He displayed the "beef production map" designed by the city government, which distinguishes the origin of beef by color. He emphasized that these maps are provided free of charge to businesses and are used to post at the door of stores or next to freezers where they are sold. Each map must be at least A4 size so that the public can know at a glance where the beef they want to eat or buy comes from and make consumption decisions.

If the amendment is passed, those who fail to label the origin of beef in accordance with regulations will be fined between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000; those who make false labels on the origin will be fined between NT$40,000 and NT$200,000.