President Ma Ying-jeou said on Thursday that Taiwan has stricter standards for US beef than the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Ma is trying to reassure the public after the government lifted a six-year old ban on US ground beef, beef offal and beef on the bone last week. More than 100 protestors demonstrated outside the presidential office Thursday calling for renegotiations with the US. Several leading figures, even within the ruling party, have condemned the move and called for a boycott over fears of mad cow disease.

Ma explained the government's stance on the controversy:

"Beef is not imported or promoted by the government. But we want everyone to be reassured about what they eat. Our importers are imposing controls so there's no need to renegotiate [with the United States]. Renegotiation would hurt our international credibility. The purpose is to guarantee the public's health, and this can be done by the people. Our contract also allows for this," said Ma.

Premier Wu Den-yih meanwhile said Thursday importers of US ground beef or offal will be required to apply and get approval from the Department of Health for their imports. The premier also said that he doesn't expect to see any US ground beef or offal in Taiwan because the health department will not approve it.

In response to the premier's remarks, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) News Dept. Director Christopher R. Kavanagh said that the OIE has already approved the safety of US beef and Taiwan should respect the agreement it has signed with the US.

The health minister meanwhile has said that no Americans have contracted the human version of mad cow disease -- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. He said US beef would be banned immediately if any Taiwanese were to do so.

Taiwan has tried through many channels to begin talks for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. Analysts have said that Taiwan lifting its ban on certain US beef products would be a prerequisite for any FTA.

Taiwan is already a major consumer of US beef, purchasing US$128 million in boneless beef products from the United States in 2008.