By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) reaffirmed its positions on the US beef controversy and the referendum on gambling in Matsu, saying that international standards should be adopted to safeguard food safety and that it respected Matsu residents’ decision despite its longstanding anti-gambling policy.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission’s voting process on the adoption of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the livestock feed additive ractopamine was “controversial” and the results were close, DPP Chairperson Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said in Taichung yesterday on the sidelines of a party event.
“Since an international standard has been adopted, the DPP will insist on its longstanding position — safeguarding the public health, referencing the international standard, monitoring the government and protecting the local livestock industry,” he said.
While Su made the comments, several DPP lawmakers said that stricter measures should be adopted.
They said that Taiwan should follow the path of the EU, which opposes the adoption of allowable levels of ractopamine.
On the referendum passed in Matsu on Saturday in favor of the construction of a casino resort, both Su and the DPP’s legislative caucus said they would respect the results.
“A referendum is a direct expression of people’s power and we respect the decisions of the people, whatever they are,” Su said.
Su said that the formulation of related laws and regulations would be essential for the project to materialize.
DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said the party has always maintained an anti-gambling stance and had never supported the legalization of gambling during its eight years in power between 2000 and 2008.
“The people of Matsu have spoken and we respect their choice. However, the DPP still maintains its anti-gambling position and will not support the proposed gambling act when it’s in the legislature in the future,” he said.