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Taiwan Quick Take: Smuggling laws tightened

Animal smugglers will face much harsher penalties if a draft bill clears the legislature. The Legislative Yuan's Economics and Energy Committee yesterday passed the first reading of a draft revision to the existing law on prevention and control of infectious animal diseases that increases punishments for animal smugglers. According to the draft amendment, anyone caught bringing animals into the country without permission can be sentenced to a maximum of seven years in prison instead of the three years provided for at present. Provision is also made for a fine of up to NT$3 million (US$93,800). Any vehicles used by the smugglers, such as ships or cars, will be confiscated, according to the committee, which explained that the amendment is part of the effort to prevent animals carrying infectious diseases from entering Taiwan. The draft amendment only has to pass a committee review before it can be delivered to the plenary session of the Legislative Yuan.

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