Workers at restaurants, seafood stores or certified traditional markets may kill fowl or fish by placing them in boiling water, but doing so as part of a public performance is illegal, a Council of Agriculture official said.
Hsu Kuei-sen (許桂森), director of the council's Animal Industry Department, made the remarks in response to questions about a hotel in Taipei County that was fined NT$100,000 (US$3,175) after a chef from China gave a demonstration called “stewing a chicken in three minutes” at a promotional event on March 21.
The chef, Zhang Xiaochun (張小春), killed the chicken by placing it in boiling water before plucking it and continuing the cooking process.
The performance drew howls of protest from the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST), which denounced the killing as animal abuse.
The county government fined the hotel for violating the Husbandry Act (畜牧法) which stipulates that slaughtering can only be performed at certified slaughterhouses, traditional markets or private homes.
Tsai Kuang-jung (蔡光榮), director of the county's Agriculture Bureau, told reporters that the public killing of animals showed a disrespect for life.
EAST said the case raises questions about whether cooking live fish at seafood restaurants also violates the law.
In response to the disputes, Hsu said the hotel was punished because it conducted the slaughter as part of a public show.
He added that while people show no indication that they will ever stop eating meat it is always better to cook in “a humane way,” according the animal a modicum of respect.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS