The government is likely to purchase air guns from a Chinese manufacturer to control the invasive green iguana population that is damaging crops, an industry association said.
The Ministry of Agriculture last year proposed the use of air guns to help cull iguanas in the wild, which are estimated to number up to 200,000, and announced last month that it hopes to cull 120,000 of the invasive animals this year.
However, the law restricts domestic manufacturers to producing air guns with an output of less than 2 joules, and prohibits the manufacture of high-kinetic-energy air guns exclusively for export or for the control of harmful species.
Photo: Liao Chia-ning, Taipei Times
The Taiwan Airsoft and Airgun Association in 2016 had petitioned for a “special permit to open up the manufacturing and export of toy guns with a capacity of more than 3 joules.”
However, following discussions with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the Executive Yuan at the time concluded that the law should remain unchanged out of a “consideration of maintaining public order,” and said the issue was “sensitive and risky.”
Whether regulations could be adjusted under special considerations would require joint discussion and evaluation involving the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, the Industrial Development Administration (IDA), the National Police Agency (NPA) and other government agencies, the MOEA said.
Given the restrictions on the domestic market and the complexity involved with easing them, the government was likely to purchase airsoft guns from China to deal with the iguana problem, the association said.
The Forestry Bureau previously sought to work with domestic air gun manufacturers to deal with the removal of the invasive African sacred ibis, but faced similar difficulties and resorted to purchasing air guns from China, it said.
“As long as the NPA has concerns about public security, the discussion is unlikely to go anywhere,” it said, and called on the MOEA to refer to other countries’ regulations concerning air guns.
The IDA said that part of the reason for the regulations is that it must work with the NPA to manage the traceability of gun components, including those of air guns and toy guns.
Part of that process involved import controls and the requirement for manufacturers to provide codes for the key components of those guns, it said.
Typhoon Saudel has shown signs of weakening but is still expected to affect Taiwan when it comes closest to the nation on Friday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The radius of Saudel shrank to about 220km as of 8am today from 250km a day earlier, and its maximum sustained winds were down to 155kph from 184kph previously, the weather agency said. As of 8am, Typhoon Saudel was 980km east of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 18kph, it said. Under the influence of a Pacific high pressure system, the storm is moving northward, meaning it is less likely to make landfall in Taiwan,
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) today said the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) has been urged not to undermine Taiwan’s credibility in international competitions, after a Taiwanese team advanced to the semi-finals of the 45th William Jones Cup over the Philippines last week due to a controversial new rule guaranteeing a semi-final place to the host team. The Republic of China Blue team advanced to the semi-finals after winning just one game in the group round due to a “host guarantee” spot, overtaking the Philippines, who held a 5-1 record ahead of the semi-finals. The Blue team finished the tournament
A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which has shifted to a more northerly track as it nears Taiwan, is expected early tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. As of this morning, Saudel was about 650km east-northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 12kph with maximum sustained winds of 162kph, CWA data showed. Although Saudel remains a moderate typhoon, it has weakened and is expected to weaken further as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, Lin added. According to
SEA WARNING EXPECTED: As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm’s intensity is continuing to weaken, a CWA official said Typhoon Saudel is continuing to weaken and shift its path northward, with a sea warning expected to be issued this evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency did not rule out issuing a land warning for outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow morning, although all storm warnings could be lifted by Friday night. Saudel is expected to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow night to Friday, bringing localized heavy rain to northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, the agency said. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of moderate Typhoon Saudel was about 890km east-northeast
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