TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Tuesday (Oct. 15) acknowledged the hasty implementation of a policy supplying fresh milk to public elementary schools. Cho admitted the policy's shortcomings, revealing that 75% of schools currently choose long-life milk, which, while enhancing calcium absorption, needs improvement.
Speaking at the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parlament), the premier asked the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA, 農業部) and the Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) to devise measures that schools and local governments can feasibly adopt. This policy, introduced in response to New Zealand dairy products becoming tariff-free in 2025, aims to provide domestic dairy to schools twice a week.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) criticized the policy's lack of supporting measures, noting that 90% of Taipei's schools have opted for long-life milk instead. She called for more comprehensive planning.
Cho announced that the current contracts will expire at the end of 2024. In 2025, authorities will design safe delivery measures that do not increase school burdens, ensuring the policy's viability, he added. He emphasized that the policy should not be forcibly implemented if schools or local governments encounter difficulties. The MOE will also propose remedial measures, he continued.