The legislature yesterday approved an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act (野生動物保育法) to provide marine mammals better protection — making Taiwan the first country in Asia to prohibit the sale of marine mammals and related products.
According to the approved amendment, marine mammals and products made from marine mammals are prohibited from being imported to or exported from the country, unless permission is obtained from the Council of Agriculture.
Individuals who violate the regulation could be fined between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.
The amendment would affect the sale of harp seal oil and other harp seal products, which have been widely advertised on TV and in shops as “health food.”
An exemption was made for Aboriginal people, who are allowed to hunt marine mammals in traditional Aboriginal territory to supply for their needs, after obtaining permission from the council.
Under the amendment, the council is entitled to draw up management bylaws to clamp down on sales of banned products on the Internet.
The Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan hailed the passage of the amendment, saying that the move would help save harp seals, whose numbers have dwindled amid global warming.
Also approved by the legislature was an amendment to the Act Governing the Examination of Special Professions and Techniques (專門職業及技術人員考試法).
The amendment stipulated that any form of cheating in exams — sitting an exam under a false name, or registering for an exam using fake identification — would result in a five-year ban from any tests hosted by the Examination Yuan.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had