Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 1/27/2006

**GAIN Report Number:** TW6004

TW0603

**Taiwan**

**Livestock and Products**

**Semi - Annual**

**2006**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Alan Hallman

American Institute in Taiwan

**Prepared by:**

Rosemary Kao

**Report Highlights:**

Taiwan will resume imports of U.S. boneless beef cuts under specified
conditions, leading to an increase in Taiwan's forecast 2006 beef
imports.

Includes PSD Changes: Yes

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

Taipei \[TW1\]

\[TW\]

**Table of Contents**

[Executive Summary 3](#executive-summary)

[Beef 4](#beef)

[Consumption 4](#consumption)

[Trade 4](#trade)

[Policy 6](#policy)

[Swine 8](#swine)

[Production 9](#production)

[Trade 10](#trade-1)

[Policy 12](#policy-1)

[Internet Resources 12](#internet-resources)

# Executive Summary

On January 25, 2006, Taiwan announced that, effective immediately, it
would resume imports of a limited category of U.S. beef products. The
conditional lifting of the import suspension will lead to additional
Taiwan beef imports in 2006, although the United States is not expected
to immediately recapture its pre-ban market share. Taiwan's total 2006
beef imports are now forecast at 98,000 metric tons (CWE), up from an
estimated 92,000 metric tons (CWE) in 2005.

Taiwan's pork situation in 2006 is forecast to be essentially unchanged
from 2005. Taiwan's plans to stop foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
vaccination and become recognized as FMD-free by 2007 will likely be
postponed. Taiwan's once vibrant pork export industry is unlikely to
regain its status and the highly-efficient swine sector will continue to
produce pork for the domestic market, supplemented by imports for
processing or to cover the occasional shortfall.

# Beef

  ---------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
  **PSD Table**                                                                        

  **Country**      **Taiwan**                                                          

  **Commodity**    **Meat, Beef                                  (1000 MT              
                   and Veal**                                    CWE) (1000            
                                                                 HEAD)                 

                   2004         Revised    2005       Estimate   2006       Forecast   UOM

                   USDA         Post       USDA       Post       USDA       Post       
                   Official     Estimate   Official   Estimate   Official   Estimate   
                   \[Old\]      \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    

  **Market Year                 01/2004               01/2005               01/2006    MM/YYYY
  Begin**                                                                              

  Slaughter        0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 HEAD)
  (Reference)                                                                          

  Beginning Stocks 0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  Production       5            5          5          5          5          5          (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  Intra EC Imports 0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  Total Imports    80           80         88         92         80         98         (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  TOTAL Imports    80           80         88         92         80         98         (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  TOTAL SUPPLY     85           85         93         97         85         103        (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  Intra EC Exports 0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  Total Exports    0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  TOTAL Exports    0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  Human Dom.       85           85         93         97         85         103        (1000 MT
  Consumption                                                                          CWE)

  Other Use,       0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
  Losses                                                                               CWE)

  TOTAL Dom.       85           85         93         97         85         103        (1000 MT
  Consumption                                                                          CWE)

  Ending Stocks    0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
                                                                                       CWE)

  TOTAL            85           85         93         97         85         103        (1000 MT
  DISTRIBUTION                                                                         CWE)

  Calendar Yr.     1            1          10         10         0          18         (1000 MT
  Imp. from U.S.                                                                       CWE)

  Calendar Yr.     0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT
  Exp. to U.S.                                                                         CWE)
  ---------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------

Conversion factor is 1.36 for beef.

## Consumption

Taiwan's beef consumption forecast is increased to 103,000 mt CWE in
2006, principally due to the resumption in imports of U.S. beef imports
on January 25, 2006. This forecast increase raises Taiwan's beef
consumption above the 2005 estimate by 6,000 metric tons.

## 

## Trade

Due to the recent re-opening of the market, the 2006 import forecast for
Taiwan is raised to 98,000 metric tons (CWE). The Taiwan market for U.S.
beef, which was closed for the second time in June 2005, was re-opened
on January 25, 2006. The import requirements are essentially unchanged
from those that prevailed last April when the market was initially
opened. The one exception is the addition of a sixth statement to the
Letterhead Certificate FSIS Form 2630-9. While exporters should confirm
this information, FSIS Forms 9285-1, 9060-5, and the Letterhead
Certificate for Boneless Beef Intended for Export to Taiwan FSIS Form
2630-9, are to accompany the products with the following certification
statements:

1\. The boneless beef was derived from cattle under the age of thirty
months slaughtered in the United States.

2\. The feeding of ruminants with meat and bone meal and greaves derived
from ruminants has been banned and the ban has been effectively
enforced.

3\. Antemortem inspection is carried out on all bovines.

4\. Cattle from which the meat originate were not subjected to a
stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed
air or gas into the cranial cavity or to a pithing process.

5\. The following material was excluded from products prepared for
export to Taiwan: brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord;
vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse
processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wing of the
sacrum), dorsal root ganglia, the tonsils and distal ileum of the small
intestine.

6\. The exported beef to Taiwan fulfilled all of the required conditions
described in the Export Verification Program. The exported beef to
Taiwan has been handled at an establishment with an approved EV Program
in such a way as to prevent contamination with ineligible specified risk
materials.

Under the new market opening conditions, only those facilities listed
under the USDA Export Verification Program are eligible to export beef
to Taiwan. The list of Eligible Suppliers to the Bovine EV Program
Identified as eligible to produce beef for Taiwan can be found in the
following AMS website:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/bevlisting.htm

The market was re-opened to 10 customs codes including raw, de-boned
muscle meat and beef quarter carcass. These are exactly the same cuts
that were approved for entry in 2005, but a tariff nomenclature
modification, effective September 1, 2005, reduced the number of tariff
lines from 16 to 10.

The Taiwan market for U.S. beef, which had been closed since the Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) report in December 2003, was re-opened
on April 16, 2005, to boneless, SRM-removed products derived from cattle
below 30 months of age. On June 24, 2005, following the confirmation of
the second BSE case in the U.S., Taiwan authorities imposed a suspension
on U.S. beef imports. The epidemiological report for the second BSE case
was presented to Taiwan authorities in September 2005 and after 5 months
of risk assessment and food safety review, the suspension was lifted.

Taiwan imported 67,660 mt (92,000 mt CWE) of beef in 2005. This
represents is a 15 percent increase from 2004, and was primarily due to
the six week long resumption of imports of U.S. beef from April 16 to
June 24, 2005. About 7,000 mt of U.S. beef, about half of the pre-BSE
level of annual U.S. beef imports, was imported in that period.

CY2006 total imports are forecast to return to the pre-BSE level of
72,000 mt (98,000 mt CWE). This assumes a continuation of the current
market access for U.S. beef and that the market remains closed to
Canadian beef. Reportedly, some retailers are holding substantial amount
of U.S. beef stock. U.S. market share in 2006 may not reach the pre-BSE
level, 22% or 16,000 mt. On the other hand, many Taiwan consumers, who
miss the flavor of American beef, are willing to pay a premium for it.
U.S. market share may reach 18% in 2006, if prices are competitive.
Market openings in Japan and South Korea may influence beef prices and
Taiwan beef imports. Subsequent updates will be provided to reflect
policy changes.

Comparison of beef imports in 2004 and 2005 is as follows: (in metric
tons, PWE)

+--------+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+---------+---------+
| Sup    | U.S. | Aust  | New   | P     | Nic    | Canada  | Total   |
| plying |      | ralia | Ze    | anama | aragua |         |         |
| Source |      |       | aland |       |        |         | Imports |
+--------+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+---------+---------+
| 2004   | 645  | 2     | 2     | 791   | 366    | 0       | 58,662  |
|        |      | 7,056 | 9,804 |       |        |         |         |
+--------+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+---------+---------+
| 2005   | 7    | 3     | 2     | 1,411 | 862    | 0       | 67,660  |
|        | ,041 | 0,254 | 8,092 |       |        |         |         |
+--------+------+-------+-------+-------+--------+---------+---------+

Source: Customs data for 2004 imports; Council of Agriculture for 2005
imports

Imports of beef and products from Canada were banned entry on May 21,
2003 in response to the detection of BSE in Canada.

Beef offal imports were liberalized on Jan. 1, 2002 upon WTO accession.
Offal imports are not taken into account in the PS&D table. The recent
market opening for U.S. beef does not include offal, which means that
the BSE import ban remains for that product.

Preliminary CY2005 Beef Offal Imports (mt)

+----------+--------+--------+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| S        | U.S.   | Panama | A        | New     | Ni      | Total   |
| upplying |        |        | ustralia | Zealand | caragua |         |
| Source   |        |        |          |         |         | Imports |
+----------+--------+--------+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| 2005     | 0      | 56     | 785      | 401     | 110     | 1,352   |
+----------+--------+--------+----------+---------+---------+---------+

*Source: Council of Agriculture data*

## Policy

Panama, Taiwan's only FTA counterpart, enjoys preferential import
tariffs for many commodities. Beef from Panama is free of duty while
beef from other countries is faces a tariff of NT\$10/kg. For beef
variety meats, Panama products are subject to 4.3% or 5% duty rate while
products from other countries face a 15% duty. Taiwan applies a
three-column tariff classification for imports. WTO members and those
with reciprocal treaties with Taiwan are eligible for duties in Column
One. Column Two applies to FTA countries and Least Developed Countries
(LDCS) while Column Three applies to other countries/territories.
Effective December 19, 2005, LDCS are subject to the lowest schedule of
tariff rates -- those in Column Two.

In order to export beef and variety meats to Taiwan, a country's meat
quarantine inspection and health certification system must be reviewed
and found acceptable by the Taiwan authorities. Taiwan currently accepts
the beef system of Australia and New Zealand and selected packing plants
in Sweden, Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras. The U.S. program is described
under the Trade section. Boneless beef, not including offal, from
approved facilities in Paraguay is also approved. None of the LDCS are
qualified to supply beef to Taiwan.

Effective December 5, 2005, beef and beef variety meats packed in
approved facilities in Kinmen, an offshore islet of Taiwan which is
geographically closer to China than to Taiwan, was allowed to re-enter
Taiwan. It has been banned from entry since the foot-and-mouth disease
outbreak in 1997. There is only one approved packing plant in Kinmen and
its supply is insignificant.

# Swine

  --------------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
  **PSD Table**                                                                                  

  **Country**                **Taiwan**                                                          

  **Commodity**   **Meat,                                                  (1000 MT              
                  Swine**                                                  CWE) (1000            
                                                                           HEAD)                 

                  2004                    Revised    2005       Estimate   2006       Forecast   UOM

                  USDA                    Post       USDA       Post       USDA       Post       
                  Official                Estimate   Official   Estimate   Official   Estimate   
                  \[Old\]                 \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    

  **Market Year                           01/2004               01/2005               01/2006    MM/YYYY
  Begin**                                                                                        

  Slaughter       9410                    9410       9530       9650       9800       9800       (1000 HEAD)
  (Reference)                                                                                    

  Beginning       0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)
  Stocks                                                                                         

  Production      898                     898        910        920        935        935        (1000 MT CWE)

  Intra EC        0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)
  Imports                                                                                        

  Total Imports   61                      61         40         38         30         38         (1000 MT CWE)

  TOTAL Imports   61                      61         40         38         30         38         (1000 MT CWE)

  TOTAL SUPPLY    959                     959        950        958        965        973        (1000 MT CWE)

  Intra EC        0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)
  Exports                                                                                        

  Total Exports   0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)

  TOTAL Exports   0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)

  Human Dom.      959                     959        950        958        965        973        (1000 MT CWE)
  Consumption                                                                                    

  Other Use,      0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)
  Losses                                                                                         

  TOTAL Dom.      959                     959        950        958        965        973        (1000 MT CWE)
  Consumption                                                                                    

  Ending Stocks   0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)

  TOTAL           959                     959        950        958        965        973        (1000 MT CWE)
  DISTRIBUTION                                                                                   

  Calendar Yr.    29                      29         16         19         12         19         (1000 MT CWE)
  Imp. from U.S.                                                                                 

  Calendar Yr.    0                       0          0          0          0          0          (1000 MT CWE)
  Exp. to U.S.                                                                                   
  --------------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------

(The conversion factor used to derive pork meat to carcass weight
equivalent (CWE) is 1.43. Imports of pork bones are also included in the
PS&D Table at a conversion factor of 1.0. Imports of pork variety meats
(offal) are not included in the PSD table.)

  ----------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
  **PSD Table**                                                                         

  **Country**       **Taiwan**                                                          

  **Commodity**     **Animal                                      (1000                 
                    Numbers,                                      HEAD)                 
                    Swine**                                                             

                    2004         Revised    2005       Estimate   2006       Forecast   UOM

                    USDA         Post       USDA       Post       USDA       Post       
                    Official     Estimate   Official   Estimate   Official   Estimate   
                    \[Old\]      \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    

  **Market Year                  01/2004               01/2005               01/2006    MM/YYYY
  Begin**                                                                               

  TOTAL Beginning   6779         6779       6819       6819       7100       7202       (1000
  Stocks                                                                                HEAD)

  Sow Beginning     812          812        828        828        830        841        (1000
  Stocks                                                                                HEAD)

  Production (Pig   11895        11895      12000      12000      12200      12200      (1000
  Crop)                                                                                 HEAD)

  Intra EC Imports  0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  Total Imports     0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  TOTAL Imports     0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  TOTAL SUPPLY      18674        18674      18819      18819      19300      19402      (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  Intra EC Exports  0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  Total Exports     0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  TOTAL Exports     0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  Sow Slaughter     0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  OTHER SLAUGHTER   9410         9410       9530       9650       9800       9800       (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  Total Slaughter   9410         9410       9530       9650       9800       9800       (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  Loss              2445         2445       2189       1967       2500       2500       (1000
                                                                                        HEAD)

  Ending            6819         6819       7100       7202       7000       7102       (1000
  Inventories                                                                           HEAD)

  TOTAL             18674        18674      18819      18819      19300      19402      (1000
  DISTRIBUTION                                                                          HEAD)

  Calendar Yr. Imp. 0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
  from U.S.                                                                             HEAD)

  Calendar Yr. Exp. 0            0          0          0          0          0          (1000
  to U.S.                                                                               HEAD)

                                                                                        
  ----------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------

## 

## 

## 

## 

## 

## Production

A recent pig inventory survey showed that pig production in 2006 is
likely to grow slightly from the 2005 level. Pig slaughter is estimated
at 9.65 million head in CY2005 and forecasted at 9.8 million head in
CY2006.

Taiwan Hog Population Data

  --------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
                        Nov. 2004        May 2005         Nov. 2005

  No. of farms          13,360           13,463           12,930

  Pigs on farm          6,818,970        7,167,559        7,202,435

  Boars                 35,410           35,771           35,368

  Sows/gilts            827,639          845,945          841,322

  Sows                  738,429          755,894          749,761

  Gilts                 89,210           90,051           91,561

  Fattening pigs        5,955,921        6,285,843        6,325,745

  Piglets               1,023,580        1,081,772        1,043,401

  Under 30 kg           1,687,222        1,835,464        1,804,502

  30-60 kg              1,640,160        1,704,710        1,745,124

  Above 60 kg           1,604,959        1,663,897        1,732,718
  --------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------

*Source: Council of Agriculture*

Taiwan Pig Auction Prices (NT\$/100 kg)

<table>
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 15%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td><p>Year/</p>
<p>Month</p></td>
<td>CY2003</td>
<td>CY2004</td>
<td><p>CY2005</p>
<p>(preliminary)</p></td>
<td><p>Mar.</p>
<p>2005</p></td>
<td>Jun. 2005</td>
<td><p>Sept.</p>
<p>2005</p></td>
<td><p>Oct.</p>
<p>2005</p></td>
<td><p>Nov.</p>
<p>2005</p></td>
<td><p>Dec.</p>
<p>2005</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Prices</td>
<td>5,298</td>
<td>5,912</td>
<td>5,327</td>
<td>5,272</td>
<td>5,355</td>
<td>5,147</td>
<td>4,992</td>
<td>5,119</td>
<td>5,218</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

*Source: Council of Agriculture*

Exchange rate: approximately NT\$34.5=US\$1 in 2003, NT\$33.5=US\$1 in
2004, roughly NT\$31.8=US\$1 in 2005.

Domestic pig prices fell below NT\$5,000/100 kg in later half of January
2006. The decline would be have been greater if prices were not partly
offset by strong pork demand for the Chinese New Year holiday, from
January 28 to February 3, 2006. The large pig herd in 2006 is expected
to reduce pig prices NT\$4,800/100 kg shortly after the holiday. Price
are likely to decline further to NT\$4,500/100 kg, a rough break-even
point for Taiwan hog production, later in the year.

## Trade

In 2005, Taiwan imported 160 head of live hogs, 155 head from the United
States and 5 from Canada. Live hog imports in 2006 are expected at
similarly low levels.

CY2005 total pork meat imports were down 35% to 26,172 mt, PWE (37,426
mt CWE), with U.S. taking nearly half of the market. CY2005 pork bone
imports totaled 985 mt (985 mt CWE). This makes the total CY2005 pork
import level, as shown in the PS&D table, 38,000 mt CWE.

The U.S. replaced Canada as the leading pork supplier in 2005, a
situation expected to continue in 2006.

Taiwan's pork imports are heavily dependent on prices. Taiwan's pig
prices are expected to be low in 2006, which may discourage imports.
Total CY2006 pork imports are forecast at about the 2005 level, with the
United States being the leading supplier. U.S. pork picnics, for
processing purpose, will continue to be the cut with the highest market
potential in Taiwan. Pork trimming supplied by Canada seems to be more
competitive, in quality and specification, than U.S. products.

Comparison of Taiwan Pork Meat Imports in CY2004 and CY2005 (mt, PWE)

+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+
| Supp  | U   | Ca   | A    | De    | Sw   | Hun  | Neth    | T    |
| lying | .S. | nada | ustr | nmark | eden | gary | erlands | otal |
| S     |     |      | alia |       |      |      |         |      |
| ource |     |      |      |       |      |      |         | Imp  |
|       |     |      |      |       |      |      |         | orts |
+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+
| 2004  | 19, | 11   | 154  | 728   | 483  | 548  | 72      | 39   |
|       | 787 | ,057 |      |       |      |      |         | ,981 |
+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+
| 2005  | 12, | 11   | 144  | 1,265 | 87   | 423  | 217     | 26   |
|       | 979 | ,057 |      |       |      |      |         | ,172 |
+-------+-----+------+------+-------+------+------+---------+------+

Source: Council of Agriculture

Pork bone imports totaled 985 mt in 2005. They were 536 mt from Canada;
301 mt from US; 117 mt from Hungary; 24 mt Sweden and 7 mt from
Australia.

Under Taiwan's WTO commitments, Special Safeguards (SSG) came into play
following Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) liberalization on January 1, 2005.
Taiwan's SSG volumes for pork belly and pork offal in 2005 and 2006 are
as follows: (in mt)

  ------------------- ------------------------ ---------------------------
                      2005 SSG Volume Trigger  2006 SSG Volume Trigger

  Pork Belly          10,066                   11,762.5

  Pork Offal          15,177                   23,637.5
  ------------------- ------------------------ ---------------------------

Source: Council of Agriculture

Preliminary CY2005 pork belly and pork offal imported under SSG are as
follows: (in mt)

  ------- -------- -------- ----------- --------- -------- --------- ------------- ---------
          U.S.     Canada   Australia   Denmark   Sweden   Hungary   Netherlands   Total
                                                                                   Imports

  Belly   4,025    3,788    137         798       62       367       171           9,347

  Offal   11,492   4,185    218         388       14       608       2,341         19,246
  ------- -------- -------- ----------- --------- -------- --------- ------------- ---------

Source: Council of Agriculture

The CY2005 pork offal volume SSG of 15,1775 mt was triggered on October
11, 2005. The most popular pork offal items have been hocks, which took
about 60% of all imports in 2005, followed by rectum. Only 4 tariff
items, HS 0206.3020 (fresh/chilled hocks), 0206-4930 (frozen hocks),
0504.0021 (guts including intestines and stomachs) and 1602.4930
(processed hocks and guts) are subject to SSG. Imports of pork liver,
tendon, and other pork offal items, which are not counted against the
SSG, totaled about 6,000 mt in 2005.

Imports of pork offal, whether or not classified under SSG, are not
taken into account in the PS&D table. Taiwan's demand for pork offal
imports has been strong over the past years. However, retailers
reportedly kept a big pork offal inventory in 2005. 2006 pork offal
imports are not expected to exceed the 2005 level. In 2006 the volume
SSG may not be triggered.

The CY2006 SSG price trigger for pork belly remains unchanged at
NT\$30/kg. There is no SSG price trigger for pork offal.

## Policy

Taiwan recognizes the pork meat inspection and food safety system of the
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and the
Netherlands. Any pork or pork variety meats supplied by
government-approved establishments from these countries may be allowed
entry into Taiwan. On the other hand, only certain establishments in
Sweden, Hungary, Finland and Japan are qualified to supply pork and
variety meats to Taiwan.

The same Three-Column tariff rate structure reported in the Beef Section
applies to pork. Panama, as Taiwan's sole FTA partner, enjoys
preferential tariffs for pork and products. However, no establishment in
Panama has been approved to supply pork and products to Taiwan.

Taiwan's FMD vaccination rate exceeded 90% in 2005. Although Taiwan has
been FMD-free since 2001 and was declared FMD-free with vaccination in
May 2003 by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE), exports are not
likely to recover to pre-FMD levels. The animal health authority's plan
to stop FMD vaccination on a couple of offshore islets beginning July 1,
2005 was postponed and now being rescheduled to begin in March 2006. It
now seems unlikely that Taiwan will meet its initial goal to completely
stop vaccination in 2006, and become recognized by the OIE as FMD free
without vaccination in 2007. In the long term, the very efficient Taiwan
swine industry will continue to produce pork for the local market, with
imports mainly used for processing or to supplement occasional
shortfalls.

# Internet Resources

Most Taiwan (.tw) domain websites are only in Chinese, but the amount of
English content is increasing.

[http://www.coa.gov.tw/english/index.htm]{.underline} for agricultural
statistics and general agricultural information (in English).

[http://www.baphiq.gov.tw]{.underline} for Taiwan quarantine
requirements (English version available).

[http://www.trade.gov.tw/english.index.htm]{.underline} for trade
statistics, trade rules, TRQ bidding rules and general trade information
(English version available).

[http://www.customs.gov.tw](http://www.customs.gov.tw/) for tariff
classification and rates, customs practice and SSG fill rate

[http://www.wto.org]{.underline} The WTO website for information about
Taiwan's WTO accession.

[http://www.doca.mof.gov.tw]{.underline} for tariff reduction schedule
(English version available) and TRQ implementation measures.

[http://210.69.119.40/seadb]{.underline} for Special Safeguards
application (Chinese only).

[http://www.naif.org.tw]{.underline} for pig auction prices and pork
retail prices (Chinese only).

[http://www.ams.usda.gov](http://www.ams.usda.gov/) for U.S. beef
facilities eligible for exports to Taiwan and other EV Program
requirements