Lawmakers begin second reading of bill

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Lawmakers begin second reading of bill

The China Post news staff
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

TAIPEI, Taiwan –– Lawmakers began a second reading of a Democratic Progressive Party-sponsored bill which asks for compensation for importers of melamine-tainted foods and drinks from China and their distributors in Taiwan.

Melamine, a highly toxic chemical, was added to milk powder produced in China, where at least four children were killed after they had been fed with contaminated baby formula.

The tainted milk powder found its way to Taiwan, where people panicked in a food scare. Importers and distributors have lost sales totaling billions of dollars.

Another bill, sponsored by the opposition party, was also deliberated on. If adopted, it would allow “China free” marks to be shown with foods imported from other countries.

The reading started with the consent of the Kuomintang, which controls a nearly three-fourths majority in the Legislative Yuan.

Lawmaker Lin Yih-shih, Kuomintang legislative caucus whip, said the ruling party does not oppose the two bills. “But,” he added, “the Executive Yuan has to study them closely to find if it is too hard to enforce the two when they are enacted.”

William Lai, DPP legislative caucus deputy whip, said the opposition party wants compensation paid in Taiwan and hopes the administration would recoup it from China.