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Sellers of illicit pesticides to face fines from EPA

Retailers that sell uncertified imported insect repellents for pets and imported pesticides such as those used to kill cockroaches will be fined up to NT$60,000 and NT$300,000, the Environmental Protection Administration said yesterday.

Chen Shu-ling (陳淑玲), a section chief at the EPA's Environmental Sanitation and Toxic Waste Management Department, said the administration has been monitoring auction sites on Yahoo-Kimo and PCHome for sales of the repellents and pesticides.

They found that some sellers would purchase the items overseas, then post them for sale on the Internet, she said.

She emphasized that all imported pesticides and repellents must receive permits from the environmental administration before they can be sold to the public.

Chen noted that the administration must review and register the ingredients contained in the pesticides and repellents as they may contain chemicals forbidden for use in Taiwan.

"We have already issued 840 valid permits for the pesticides and repellents and have published their brand names on our Web site," she said. "It's really not necessary to buy them overseas."

Chen added the administration will first give warnings to sellers who are first-time perpetrators.

They will be penalized if they are proven to have committed the crime a second time, however.

According to the EPA, the administration has asked both Yahoo-Kimo and PCHome to inform their members about the laws regulating pesticides and repellents.

Travelers are now allowed to bring in less than 1 liter or 1kg of such products when they return from abroad and the products must be reserved for personal use, not put up for sale.

If travelers bring in pesticides and repellents that are not on permissible items lists, approval from the EPA must be received before the drugs can be allowed to pass through the customs.

If the amount travelers bring in exceeds the 1kg or 1 liter limit, the excess amount must be returned to the country of origin or left with customs officials.
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