New know-how pinpoints dairy origins

PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION
The system is a part of the Council of Agriculture’s plan to differentiate domestically produced dairy merchandise from the imported form

• By Yang Yuan-ting
  and Jake Chung / Employees reporter, with employees author

The Council of Agriculture mentioned it’s growing isotope distinguishment know-how, which, mixed with “huge information,” would differentiate the manufacturing location of dairy merchandise.

The plan was made resulting from considerations concerning the impending elimination of tariffs for Taiwanese imports of New Zealand beef, lamb and dairy merchandise — on account of the Settlement Between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Financial Cooperation (ANZTEC) — would considerably have an effect on home dairy and meat markets, the council mentioned.

ANZTEC, signed in 2013, eliminated tariffs on a set quantity of liquid dairy merchandise — 5,500 tonnes as of 2013 — and provides a cost of NT$14 for each kilogram exceeding that quantity.

Picture: Lee Jung-ping, Taipei Occasions

It was agreed that the allotted quantity of tariff-free merchandise would improve by 1,500 tonnes each three years till 2025, when quotas could be eliminated.

As of final month, Taiwan has imported 103,562 tonnes of dairy merchandise, a 9.2 p.c improve in contrast with the identical interval final yr, the council mentioned.

It additionally mentioned it plans to encourage home dairy high quality, match home dairy manufacturing to market wants and step up measures to differentiate native and imported dairy merchandise.

Over the previous decade, home dairy manufacturing has elevated from 320,000 tonnes to 430,000 tonnes, the council mentioned.

Because of excessive home demand, dairy farmers have been recognized to supply quantities exceeding the quota, and contracted processing corporations have been greater than keen to buy the surplus, it mentioned.

Nevertheless, because the home dairy market is turning into saturated and the nation’s financial surroundings is inflicting public spending to show conservative, processing corporations are demanding that dairy producers observe the output quotas.

There are commonplace certifications for milk, however they might be improved to distinguish native and imported dairy merchandise, the council mentioned, including that it’s growing a system to take action.

The council mentioned that the system, which has been trialed for 2 years, has a 90 p.c accuracy fee in differentiating the origin nation of dairy merchandise, and it could possibly additionally decide whether or not milk is contemporary or made out of powder.

The system is nearly full, and can be utilized to examine pork and hen meat to establish the nation of origin, it mentioned, including that Taiwan would offer product origin info on packaging.