TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA, 農業部) announced on Thursday (Sept. 26) that a new initiative to provide domestic dairy products to elementary school students will begin next week.
This effort aims to mitigate the impact of New Zealand dairy products entering Taiwan tariff-free in 2025, which could threaten local dairy farmers' livelihoods.
Li Yi-qian (李宜謙), an official from the MOA, stated that the program would run for four years, with students consuming dairy products 44 times each semester.
To support this initiative, the government will subsidize each bottle of refrigerated fresh milk by NT$16 and each bottle of long-life milk or calcium-fortified soy milk by NT$14. The ordering information went live online on Monday, and local governments have started placing orders.
The program offers students three choices: refrigerated fresh milk, long-life milk, and calcium-fortified soy milk. Refrigerated fresh milk accounts for approximately 23% of the consumption, long-life milk for 75%, and calcium-fortified soy milk for about 2%.
Major companies participating in this initiative include Uni-President (統一), Kuang Chuan (光泉), and Wei Chuan (味全). This collaboration aims to ensure a smooth rollout and consistent supply of dairy products to schools across Taiwan.