Agricultural Minister Chen Chi-chung says the risk of the African swine fever entering Taiwan should not be taken lightly. He was speaking Monday while inspecting parcels at a post office in Taipei.
Chen raised the alarm because in September, authorities discovered 149 parcels mailed from abroad that contained meat. That’s eight times the monthly average for last year.
Chen said that figure may have something to do with the custom of giving gifts during the Mid-Autumn Festival. But with more holidays in the coming months, he said the risk is still high.
“The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, so we are concerned that some consumers and foreign senders have no idea that [they’re breaking the law]. All [illegal] parcels will either be returned or confiscated," said Chen.
Taiwan’s legislature has passed revisions to the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease. Under the revisions, e-commerce operators must take steps to help curb the spread of animal diseases. Violators could be fined up to NT$150,000 (US$5,000). The revisions will go into effect next week at the earliest.