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 / Staff reporter, with employees author

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

The plan was made attributable to issues concerning the impending elimination of tariffs for Taiwanese imports of New Zealand beef, lamb and dairy merchandise — because of the Agreement Between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic 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.

Photo: Lee Jung-ping, Taipei Times

It was agreed that the allotted quantity of tariff-free merchandise would enhance 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 % enhance 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.

Due to excessive home demand, dairy farmers have been recognized to provide quantities exceeding the quota, and contracted processing firms have been greater than prepared to buy the surplus, it mentioned.

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

There are commonplace certifications for milk, however they may very well 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 % accuracy charge in differentiating the origin nation of dairy merchandise, and it could possibly additionally decide whether or not milk is contemporary or created from powder.

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