TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration on Thursday removed the age restriction on Japanese beef imports, allowing meat from cattle over 30 months old for the first time.

TFDA Director General Chiang Chih-kang (姜至剛) said the decision followed years of scientific review, including three expert meetings and an on-site inspection in Japan in 2022, per CNA. He added that all findings and safety assessments have been published online to ensure transparency.

The restriction was introduced in 2003 amid global concerns over mad cow disease, which led to import bans on beef from the US, Canada, and Japan. Taiwan resumed conditional imports of Japanese beef in 2017 but has maintained the age cap until now.

The risk of exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was calculated to be low, just one case per 150 million consumers, according to TFDA analysis. Japan has not reported a BSE case since 2009 and is now classified as a negligible-risk country by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Chiang noted that Japanese beef made up just 1.4% of Taiwan’s total beef imports last year, per UDN. In contrast, the US, Paraguay, and Australia were the top three suppliers, accounting for more than 80% combined.

Taiwan lifted similar age restrictions on US and Canadian beef in 2021 and 2023. The TFDA said it would continue enforcing strict inspection and safety protocols.