The Organic Agriculture Promotion Act Officially Takes Effect; the Government Must Allocate Resources to Vigorously Promote It

The Organic Agriculture Promotion Act was promulgated on May 30 of last year (2018), and tomorrow (the 30th) is the official date of its entry into force. Today the Council of Agriculture held a press conference and stated that after the law takes effect, it will allocate guidance resources to promote organic and eco-friendly production and marketing guidance, talent cultivation, and educational outreach, along with multiple measures such as exemption from liability for pollution from neighboring fields and preferential rent and lease terms for leasing public land.

Regarding illegal factories on farmland occupying agricultural land, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung emphasized that "agricultural land must absolutely be used for agriculture and must not be harmed," that the amendment to the Factory Management Act should include a ten-year sunset deadline, and that responsibility for judging factory pollution should rest jointly with the Council of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Administration.