TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's leading consumer advocacy group is questioning why fresh milk prices remain stubbornly high despite a recent trade agreement. The Consumers' Foundation (消費者文教基金會), a prominent watchdog organization, on Friday (April 25) expressed alarm that dairy costs haven't decreased even after New Zealand products gained tariff-free access to Taiwan's markets this year. The group has called on two government bodies, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA, 農業部) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部), to launch a thorough investigation into the pricing anomaly.
In its appeal, the consumer group cited alarming statistics from Numbeo's 2024 global database that place Taiwan's dairy costs at the second highest position worldwide among 109 surveyed nations. Taiwanese consumers pay approximately NT$101 (US$3.11) per liter, while New Zealanders pay just NT$63.9 (US$1.97) for the same quantity — a 60% price difference. Industry representatives from the Dairy Association of Taiwan (中華民國乳業協會) defended the disparity, blaming substantial retail placement fees that consume roughly 40% of the final consumer price.
The advocacy group is pushing for coordinated government action to address what it considers an unjustified pricing structure. Their proposal calls for a granular analysis of the entire dairy supply chain, from farm to retail shelf, to identify potential market inefficiencies or anti-competitive practices. The foundation specifically highlighted the need to regulate the substantial fees charged by Taiwan's ubiquitous convenience store chains, which dominate the retail landscape. They framed the issue as both an economic concern and a public health matter, suggesting high prices may discourage consumption of nutritionally important dairy products. ★