A duck farmer in Yunlin County surnamed Liu (劉) was yesterday indicted for illegally importing bird flu vaccines from China, in a case that authorities said underscores Taiwan’s blanket ban on such products.
Taiwan has not approved any bird flu vaccines, and the manufacture, importation, sale or use of such products is illegal under the Veterinary Drugs Control Act (動物用藥品管理法), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said.
Contraventions are punishable by prison sentences of up to seven years and fines of up to NT$4.5 million (US$142,365), the agency said.
Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine
Prosecutors allege Liu, 42, imported 1,886 bottles of unapproved bird flu vaccine in February and July last year and attempted to evade customs inspections by falsely declaring the shipment as floor cleaner.
Each bottle could be used to vaccinate about 500 birds, meaning the seized vaccines could have been administered to more than 940,000 fowl, prosecutors said.
The investigation involved the Coast Guard Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture, prosecutors said.
Searches were last year carried out at customs offices and the suspect’s residence, resulting in the seizure of the 1,886 bottles of illegal animal vaccine, prosecutors said.
Liu was released on bail of NT$50,000 before prosecutors concluded their investigation and formally indicted him, they said.
Although Liu said the vaccines were for personal use and not sold to others, the quantity imported far exceeded his farming needs, prosecutors said.
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