DPP passes ractopamine directives
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT? The KMT’s Cheng Li-wun said that DPP lawmakers had castrated themselves by opposing the public will and that they were a rubber-stamp team
By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
Nine administrative directives to lift restrictions on imports of pork products containing ractopamine residue, as well as US beef from cattle 30 months or older, were approved yesterday, with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) prevailing, given its majority in the legislature.
The results pave the way for Taiwan to allow imports and sales of such US pork and beef products from Friday next week.
DPP lawmakers, who hold 61 of the 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan, voted to pass the nine directives, which included regulations on ractopamine residue levels; labeling of the origin of pork products; quarantine and examination procedures for imported beef; and rules for imports of US and Canadian beef.
KMT to hold anti-US pork rally while legislators vote
PROTEST MARCH: The party would lead its supporters on hourly parades around the legislature and Thursday’s vote would be broadcast at the rally, a KMT official said
By Chen Yun and Wu Su-wei / Staff reporters
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is to stage two rallies on Wednesday evening and Thursday against the government’s decision to lift a ban on the importation of US pork with ractopamine residues, as nine executive orders associated with the policy are to be put to a vote at the Legislative Yuan on Thursday.
The rally would be held on Jinan Road (濟南路) in front of the Legislative Yuan’s Chun-hsien Building (群賢樓) in Taipei, the KMT said.