Visit to Taiwan by Senior Advisor for Agricultural

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON SENV OTRA ETRD TW KPAO OIIP TBIO

SUBJECT: Visit to Taiwan by Senior Advisor for Agricultural
Biotechnology Highlights Need for Biotechnology Communications
Strategy

Ref: A)SECSTATE 44180, B)TAIPEI 00830


1. Summary: Madelyn Spirnak, the State Department Senior Advisor for
Agricultural Biotechnology, visited Taipei from March 29 - April 1,

2006. She discussed U.S. agricultural biotechnology policy with a
wide range of officials. It became clear that Taiwan authorities do
not have a long term strategy (also see REFTEL B) or an effective
communications plan to talk with the public about agricultural
biotechnology. While public opinion is relatively favorable, the
lack of a risk communication strategy threatens the currently
favorable environment. End Summary.


2. During her visit, Ms. Spirnak met with authorities from the
principle regulatory agencies, reporters, industry representatives,
and the president of one of the most influential NGOs on Taiwan.


3. The Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for food safety,
and conducts, with a committee of 16 outside experts, the food
safety evaluation of biotech products. Madelyn Spirnak met with
Director Hsiao Tung-Ming and Senior Scientist Lin Hsin-Tang from the
Bureau of Food Safety and Director General Chen Shu-Kong from the
Bureau of Food and Drug Analysis. While twelve events have been
approved for imported products (eleven corn and one soybean event),
and four additional applications are in process, no domestic events
have been approved. Under an informal policy, it is not necessary
to get approval for stacked events if the components of the event
have already been approved. This arrangement does not inspire
confidence, and several firms have made voluntary submissions for
stacked events. The DOH is one of several agencies working on a
draft biotech basic law that might help resolve some of these
issues, but this law is unlikely to be finished anytime soon.
Separately, DOH is considering forming a consultative center to
communicate with Taiwan researchers as they develop biotech
products. Taiwan officials indicated their interest in obtaining US
assistance to help train members of the GM Food Risk Advisory
Committee.


4. The DOH has posted its review procedures and a list of approved
products on the Internet. Both DOH and the Council of Agriculture
(COA) have websites on biotechnology. The officials noted that
while Taiwan does label biotech products, most consumers don't pay
attention to the labels. They said that consumer groups raise the
potential long-term safety of biotech crops primarily to get press
coverage, and they noted that the back-to-nature position of
environmental organizations does not necessarily improve food safety
or the environment. DOH officials said they currently do not have
regular contact with U.S. FDA on agricultural biotechnology food
safety issues and would welcome the opportunity to work with FDA
experts.


5. The Consumer Foundation is one of the most influential NGOs on
Taiwan, and often makes comments - sometimes inaccurate - on food
safety issues. In a meeting with Ms. Spirnak, Chairman Jason Lee
indicated that while the Foundation is aware of the benefits of
biotechnology, it will also pay close attention to both food and
environmental safety issues. Mr. Lee stressed the importance of
consumer choice and transparency and welcomed all information,
positive and negative, about the technology. Foundation officials
also indicated that local consumers are concerned about food safety,
are paying increasing attention to health, and that organic products
are becoming more popular. Spirnak also met with members of the
press, who asked questions on Taiwan competitiveness in agricultural
biotechnology, biotechnology in developing countries, biotechnology
and its relationship to globalization, food aid, labeling, US
pressure on other countries, and China. The Central News Agency, a
local wire service owned by Taiwan authorities, participated in the
meeting and published a print article. The article was neutral in
tone and accurately presented what Spirnak said.


6. At the Council of Agriculture (COA),Spirnak met with a large
group of COA officials that was led by Vice Minister Lee Jen-Chyuan
and Yeh Ying the Deputy Director of BAPHIQ - the Taiwan equivalent
of APHIS. Vice Minister Lee said that a new regulatory framework -
the new basic law - is required for commercialization, but that the
existing administrative order is sufficient for now. He also noted

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that under a proposed reorganization, authority to conduct
environmental risk assessments might be placed in a newly created
Ministry of Environmental Affairs. His concept of a domestic
regulatory approval process was sequential, rather than parallel as
in the United States, with laboratory control under the National
Science Council, field trials controlled by COA, and product
approvals controlled by DOH. The Taiwan delegation inquired about
how the United States coordinates the interagency process, tolerance
levels for biotech products in organic food, and the possibility of
the US assisting with monitoring. Spirnak indicated that the US has
assisted other countries in developing and/or improving risk
assessment methods; if the risk assessment is done properly,
monitoring should be less of a priority.


7. Taiwan has developed ring spot virus resistant biotech papaya,
and several other virus and insect-resistant crops. The papaya is
in open field trials, but DOH has not completed its food safety
assessment. In response to a question, Vice Minister Lee said that
when farmers seek out new varieties they do not necessarily prefer
transgenics, but that papaya producers are pushing for
commercialization of biotech papayas. When Spirnak noted that the
Philippines might commercialize their biotech papaya in 2007, the
Vice Minister said that they suspect that Philippines might not have
followed all of the assessment procedures. Spirnak then noted that
we have found the Philippines to be a good regulatory model for
Asian countries and have been impressed with their effective methods
of risk communication.


8. On the Biosafety Protocol (BSP),Vice Minister Lee asked how the
US will be able to segregate bulk commodities, and said that some
countries have decided not to commercialize biotech products because
of the BSP discussions. Spirnak noted that US Officials are studying
the agreement reached at the BSP meeting in Brazil, but that the
agreement doesn't apply to non-parties such as the US and Taiwan.
The Vice Minister also brought up the topic of religion and
biotechnology, noting that some religious leaders are opposed to
animal genetics in crops.


9. At the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD)
Spirnak met with Vice Chair Fadah Hsieh, and Kao Shien-Quey, the
Deputy Director of the Overall Planning Department. Mr. Hsieh noted
Taiwan suffers from inefficient resource allocation in the farming
sector, as farmers comprise 10% of the population but use 24% of
arable land. He also said that Taiwan captures and uses 18% of its
rainwater, and while industry also requires high quality water,
agriculture uses 74% of that high quality water.


10. Taiwan has goals for agricultural biotechnology, but they are
not specific or particularly quantifiable. In order to avoid
potential food safety concerns, their primary focus is on flower
development (particularly orchids). The lack of a risk
communication strategy was apparent when the Vice Chair said that
the Prime Minister had responsibility to talk to the public about
the safety of biotech products. The Vice Chair also noted the
importance of a stable supply of food, and lamented that several
traditional varieties of foods had disappeared since Taiwan entered
the WTO. (Comment. These changes are probably related to improved
seed varieties rather than trade effects, and mostly preceded entry
into the WTO. However, public perception is that WTO accession has
harmed farmers. End Comment.) The Vice Chair also commented on the
difficulty of farm reform.


11. Comment: Ms. Spirnak's timely and useful visit highlighted and
reaffirmed the apparent interest of Taiwan authorities to adopt
agricultural biotechnology as a means to improve overall
agricultural productivity and competitiveness. It also confirmed
that a clear strategy is not in place to reach that goal (REFTEL B).
AIT and a variety of partners are coordinating a number of
activities with Taiwan authorities to address this shortcoming. In
particular, we should look at ways to bring Taiwan and US regulatory
officials together to build professional relationships and
confidence in the area of risk assessment. End Comment.

YOUNG