The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said yesterday that individuals who receive parcels containing pork products from abroad would face fines of up to NT$1 million (US$32,160), even if the violation was unintentional, as part of strengthened efforts to prevent African swine fever (ASF) from entering Taiwan.
The revised rule, which took effect last Thursday, imposes fines of NT$200,000 for first-time offenders and NT$1 million for repeat violations, the MOA said in a report on post-ASF prevention and market adjustment measures presented at yesterday's Executive Yuan meeting.
Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) told reporters after the meeting that in past cases, some recipients claimed they were unaware their parcels contained pork products in an attempt to avoid punishment.
Photo: Taipei Times
From now on, all violators are to be fined, whether the act was intentional or the result of negligence, he said, adding that those who believe they were wrongly penalized would be able to seek administrative relief.
According to the MOA, the new measures also include stricter border inspections, enhanced checks on cargo and travelers from high-risk areas, and tighter regulation of cross-border e-commerce platforms.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs said it would require e-commerce platforms under its jurisdiction to display disease-prevention warnings and restrict access to high-risk products. Platforms that fail to comply may face penalties, the ministry added.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Administration is to deploy radar and drones to monitor suspicious vessels, expand inspections to curb smuggling of animal products, and strengthen checks on crew belongings, according to the report.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) has instructed relevant agencies to strictly enforce the new measures to help Taiwan regain its ASF-free status, after African swine fever was confirmed at a Taichung pig farm last month, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said yesterday.
A total of 400 foreign “high- level” professionals have been naturalized as Republic of China (Taiwan) citizens over the past decade as the government has eased nationality rules to attract talent from a wider range of fields, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday. The 400th high-level professional, who works in the electronics industry, was approved for ROC citizenship on Aug. 26, the MOI said. The MOI quoted the newly naturalized citizen as saying that Taiwan is a leader in fields such as semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, artificial intelligence development and energy technology. He also said
OCT. 31: The antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Eraflu have been distributed to about 4,000 medical facilities nationwide for people in seven groups who develop flu-like symptoms As the domestic influenza epidemic enters its peak season and continues to escalate, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday announced that publicly funded influenza antiviral drugs for seven eligible groups have been extended to Oct. 31, allowing those who develop flu-like symptoms to receive the medication without undergoing a rapid influenza test. The CDC has extended the expanded use of flu antiviral drugs to seven groups: healthcare and influenza-prevention personnel; residents and staff at nursing homes, long-term care facilities and similar institutions; kindergarten and daycare workers and home-based caregivers; students from kindergarten through high school, vocational high school and the
A Chinese military drone was spotted conducting reconnaissance off Taitung County as President William Lai (賴清德) visited Pingtung County this morning to inspect a drill of the armed forces’ precision-strike capabilities, prompting the military to closely monitor its actions. Today was the final day of a three-day military exercise at Jioupeng Base (九鵬基地) to test the joint combat capabilities of the armed forces and coast guard. The exercise began on Wednesday simulating air defense interception and yesterday tested long-range strike capabilities and new air defense weapons. This morning, the military conducted a final exercise involving air defense, anti-ship and drone operations. Military sources said
China has warned that it could cancel a planned US-China leaders’ summit if Washington approves new arms sales to Taiwan, a Japanese media outlet quoted sources as saying yesterday. US President Donald Trump, “apparently eager to showcase some diplomatic achievements ahead of November’s midterm congressional elections, places great importance on holding the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平),” Japan’s Kyodo News reported. “While preparing for Xi’s upcoming trip, China has restated its position that the Taiwan issue is a ‘red line’ in bilateral relations,” the report said. The report said that when Xi met with Trump in Beijing in May, Xi said
RSS