The Nutrition and Healthy Diet Promotion Act[1]  has passed Taiwan’s legislature alongside resolutions urging consideration for animal welfare and climate impacts originally proposed by EAST. The bill passed the third reading on December 15.

The first supplementary resolution notes that dietary choices are a key contributor to climate change and states that central government authorities should consider environmental impacts when devising nutrition and dietary recommendations. In addition, it calls on authorities to forge a national consensus on environmentally-friendly diets.

The second supplementary resolution states that government authorities should counsel food and hospitality businesses to consider environmental sustainability and animal welfare in the development, production and manufacture of their products.

EAST recognizes legislators Su Chiao-Hui (DPP), Lin Wei-Chou (KMT), Wu Yu-Chin (DPP) and Lai Hui-Yuan (DPP) for supporting the passage of the resolutions, though expresses regret that the provisions were not included in the main articles of the Act.

Article 7 of the act requires central government authorities to establish mechanisms for public participation and include public opinion in the decision making process. This addition was moved by legislators Lin Wei-Chou, Chiu Tai-Yuan (DPP) and Claire Wang (NPP) and was also originally proposed by EAST.

In January, Taiwan passed a flagship climate bill which requires the government to promote low-carbon diets, defined to include plant-based foods, locally-produced foods and reduction of food waste.

In 2022, Taiwan’s per capita consumption of meat (87.5 kg) eclipsed grains (87.4 kg) – including rice and noodles – for the first time on record. Overconsumption of animal products has been linked to increased rates of obesity and chronic diseases. According to statistics from the Health Promotion Administration, the rates of overweight and obese adults increased from 47.9% in 2016 to 2019 to 50.3% in 2017 to 2020 with similar trends observed in elementary and junior high school students, highlighting the urgent need to promote healthy and sustainable diets.

The latest Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) report found the global livestock industry accounts for around 12% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, 62% of which comes from cattle ranching, followed by pigs (14%), chickens (9%), buffalo (8%) and sheep/goats (7%), underscoring the link between excessive meat consumption and the climate crisis. The comprehensive life cycle assessment examines the greenhouse gas emissions of global livestock systems, spanning land use change, farm gate and supply chain processes.

EAST calls on the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local health authorities to embody animal welfare and environmental sustainability when formulating nutrition policies, setting dietary guidelines and conducting dietary education. In response to the climate crisis, we urge governments to emphasize balanced consumption of the six major food groups, promote plant-forward diets and tackle the overconsumption of animal products.

Media contact

Yu-Min Chen, Deputy Chief Executive
Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST)
Mobile: +886 (9) 1015 0908
Phone: +886 (2) 2236 9735