The government is trying its utmost to coordinate with the legislature over a possible legal amendment aimed at obstructing U.S. beef imports considered to be risky, Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Friday. Wang said the existing strict measures, known as the 'three controls' and 'five certifications, ' have been effective in keeping potentially hazardous beef parts from the United States out of the country. However, the government would be willing to bear some of the consequences should the Legislative Yuan remain determined to pass an amendment to the Act Governing Food Sanitation to demand a re-opening of talks with the United States on controversial beef imports, Wang said. 'President Ma Ying-jeou will meet Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng later in the day for a discussion of the issue,' he said. The so-called three controls refer to setting controls on beef imports at the source, at borders and in markets. The five certifications refer to verifying certification documents, checking that shipments are marked with detailed product information, opening a high percentage of cartons of imported beef to check the product, conducting food safety tests, and being able to get information on suspected problem products immediately, according to DOH officials. Ma's decision to meet with the legislative speaker came after National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi urged lawmakers and the public a day earlier not to demand a re-opening of the beef talks with the United States, warning that reneging on an agreement to lift a ban on the imports would hurt relations. The government agreed to lift a ban on imports of U.S. bone-in beef, offal and ground beef Nov. 2, based on a protocol that it signed with the U.S. in October, leading to widespread criticism and concern about public health safety due to fears of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Su said the public should take into account Taiwan's limited role in the international community when considering how to approach the issue. Taiwan needs the support of the United States, its biggest ally, in its bids to participate in international organizations. If it violates the import protocol, it is likely that the U.S. will hold back its support for the country, Su said. Foreign Minister Timothy Chin-tien Yang said that same day that Taiwan should not break its promise after signing an international agreement, as doing so will undermine its international credibility. 'As a responsible member of the international community... Taiwan should categorically not renege on its promise after signing a deal,' Yang said. Also Friday, ruling Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus whip Lu Hsueh-chang said that over half of the KMT lawmakers would support an amendment version authored by KMT Legislator Daniel Y.J. Huang, which stipulates that ground beef, beef offal and four other categories of beef products should be barred from import if the supplying country 'has been a mad cow disease affected area.' Ruling and opposition lawmakers have proposed their own versions of the draft amendments to the Act Governing Food Sanitation in the face of growing pressure from the public and could reach a consensus Dec. 29. 'Taiwan might face U.S. retaliation whatever version of the amendment the legislature decides to propose,' Su warned. 