DOH sets ractopamine residue level for beef

Taiwan has decided to follow international standards in setting permissible residue levels for the leanness-enhancing feed additive ractopamine in beef imports at 10 parts per billion, the ROC Department of Health said July 31.

The DOH made the decision after health experts reached a consensus at a regular meeting on food hygiene, safety and nutrition earlier in the day.

Based on the July 5 decision of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to allow a maximum residue level of 10 ppb in beef, the acceptable daily intake of ractopamine for an individual is 1 microgram, according to Kang Jaw-jou, director-general of the DOH Food and Drug Administration.

“A male between the ages of 19 and 64, for example, who consumes a daily average of 12.85 grams of beef would ingest just 0.5 percent of 1 microgram,” Kang said. “This figure is within the acceptable range regarding risk to human health.”

The DOH’s determination of an MRL followed passage of revisions to the Act Governing Food Sanitation July 25 allowing ractopamine in beef. Taiwan’s prohibition of the drug had long been a sore spot in Taiwan-U.S. trade relations.

Once the amendments take effect and the Council of Agriculture lifts the ban on ractopamine, the DOH will officially announce the MRL, step up inspections and set labeling requirements, Kang said.