Purchasing pet food containing meat products online could risk introducing foreign animal diseases, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said on Friday. Pet owners should check whether such products have been approved by the agency, as those who import illegal products could face a fine of up to NT$1 million (US$30,855), it said.
Many online shops offer big discounts as the end of the year approaches, giving pet owners the chance to pamper their furry friends while saving money.
However, freeze-dried pet food could contain contaminated meat products that put Taiwan’s animals at risk, the agency said.
Photo courtesy of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency
In Asia, only Japan and Taiwan remain free of African swine fever (ASF), the agency said.
This year, new outbreaks of the disease were reported in Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania in Europe, Angola and Gabon in Africa, and Sri Lanka in Asia, it said.
Neighboring countries, including South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines, continue to report ASF outbreaks, it said.
ASF continues to be detected in pork imported illegally from China, Vietnam and Thailand, it added, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
While most ASF-positive products imported were intended for human consumption, with the growing number of pets, cases of illegally imported pet products have also grown, the agency said.
Freeze-dried pet food and other animal products imported from overseas must comply with quarantine requirements, it said.
Products that have been approved by the agency ensure pets’ food safety and prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases, it said. Customers should check whether products purchased through international e-commerce contain animal ingredients, the agency said.
Many of these products, including sausages, pork floss, jerky, chicken feet and mooncakes, are not allowed to be shipped to Taiwan, it said.
Shipping products containing animal ingredients to Taiwan could result in heavy fines and puts Taiwan’s pigs at risk of disease outbreaks, it added.
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