PLA pork rations sold online; Customs Administration investigates, finds no record of imports from China
Someone posted on Facebook sharing "tasting notes and photos of PLA combat ration packs," along with a sales page on an online store. At a time when authorities are on high alert to block African swine fever, the Ministry of Finance Customs Administration immediately investigated the source of the rations. After verification by the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, what was shared
Someone posted on Facebook sharing "tasting notes and photos of PLA combat ration packs," along with a sales page on an online store. At a time when authorities are on high alert to block African swine fever, the Ministry of Finance Customs Administration immediately investigated the source of the rations. After verification by the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, what was shared was an old page from the 104th year of the Republic of China (2015), and the seller had already been suspended by the auction platform at the end of last year for illegally selling 3 pork products.
The Customs Administration pointed out that after word spread of netizens sharing videos of eating PLA rations containing pork ingredients and of the online auction page, the Council of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine sought confirmation from Ruten Auction, confirming that the page was information from the 104th year of the Republic of China (2015), and that the seller "Snow Wolf Outdoor Supplies" had been required by Ruten to remove the listings and had its account suspended at the end of the 107th year of the Republic of China (2018) for illegally selling 3 pork products. Since December of the 107th year of the Republic of China (2018), e-commerce operators have cooperated with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine to filter keywords, and netizens cannot purchase pork products through e-commerce platforms.
The Customs Administration required all customs offices to conduct verification, and all reported no record of combat rations made in mainland China being declared for import. The Customs Administration also stated that if platform operators can help provide seller information, it will further investigate the source of the goods. The commodity classification code for combat rations is 1905.90.90.00-6, with import regulations MW0 and F01; they are mainland Chinese items not open to import, and may only be imported after applying to the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare for inspection and obtaining approval.
Imported combat rations can still be bought in Taiwan. According to customs statistics, in recent years manufacturers have declared imports mostly from the United States, Norway, Germany and Japan, mostly declared as nutritional rations and survival rations. Because similar goods may be smuggled in through online shopping by express delivery or postal parcel with false declarations, the Customs Administration has required the Taipei Customs Office to strengthen inspection and interception.
For passengers bringing pork products from epidemic areas into the country, the first offense carries a fine of 200,000. Penalties for imports through express delivery or postal parcels are even heavier. The Customs Administration said that under the regulations governing customs clearance of air express cargo, goods involving quarantine import regulations such as agricultural, fishery and livestock products and animal and plant products may not use simplified declaration for customs clearance. Those caught by customs smuggling imports will be referred to the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine and transferred for criminal investigation for violating the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases, with a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment and a concurrent fine of up to NT$3 million.
