Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 4/9/10

Taiwan has approved selected categories of U.S. beef offal, expanding the potential for growth of U.S. beef exports to a key Asian market.

Approved items, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, include beef skirts and hanging tenders. Other variety meat items such as liver and kidneys have not been fully approved, but are under consideration, the group said.

The move represents another incremental step toward full reopening of Taiwan's market. Taipei agreed last fall to a full reopening, but with a transitional phase during which the United States would only ship products from cattle younger than 30 months of age.

"It's exciting to get skirts and hanging tenders approved," said Kevin Smith, USMEF's director of export services for the Asian markets. "Those are big-demand items in that market, and I know the industry is really excited about them."

Last year, Taiwan set a new value record for imports of U.S. beef at $141.2 million, up 11 percent from 2008, despite some controversy over the inclusion of bone-in beef cuts for the first time since 2003. U.S. beef exports to Taiwan are also off to a strong start in 2010, USMEF said.

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