Taiwan has officially lifted age restrictions on imported Japanese beef,
allowing beef from cattle of all ages to enter the country for the first
time.

The Food and Drug Administration says the revised regulations take effect
immediately, removing the previous limit of under 30 months due to concerns
over mad cow disease.

FDA Director General Chiang Chih-kang (姜至剛) emphasized that the risk is
extremely low — estimated at just one potential exposure per 150 million
people.

Japan hasn’t reported a case of mad cow disease since 2009, and the World
Organisation for Animal Health classifies it as a negligible-risk country.

Japanese beef accounts for only 1.4% of Taiwan’s beef imports.

The FDA said the vast majority — about 90% — comes from other countries
like the U.S., Paraguay, and Australia.

Officials stressed that beef from any cattle suspected or confirmed to have
mad cow disease, or from the same herd, remains strictly banned to protect
public health.

(IG)