Taiwan official apologises for scare over U.S. beef

Thu, Nov 5 03:04 PM

A senior Taiwan official apologised on Thursday over lifting a ban on U.S. beef imports to the island's markets, a move that set off widespread fears of mad cow disease and tarnished President Ma Ying-jeou's reputation.

National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi told a Taiwan parliament committee that the government's "communication" was poor following an Oct. 22 decision to lift the ban on bone-in beef and other cattle products, an aide to Su said.

The gaps in communication set off "public panic," Su told the legislative committee, local media reported.

"He wanted to make an apology for the inadequacy in communication and say that the government would make improvements next time," the aide said.

A public furore over fears of mad cow disease has handed President Ma Ying-jeou his biggest crisis since the government's perceived slow response to a deadly typhoon in August.

As officials lay the groundwork to lift the ban, which was imposed six years ago when mad cow was more prevalent in the United States, the ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) has faced criticism from within its ranks, trade groups and the main opposition party.

(Reporting by Ralph Jennings; Editing by Sugita Katyal)

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