China's Avian Flu Vaccines Can Be Bought Directly on Taobao, Exposing a Loophole in Taiwan's Animal Disease Prevention

Cross-strait e-commerce is booming. Besides buying Chinese-made clothes, bags, shoes and 3C products through Taobao, even veterinary drugs and avian flu vaccines can be easily obtained. China allows the poultry industry to administer vaccines to control avian flu outbreaks, so although Taiwan strictly prohibits vaccinating poultry against avian flu, unscrupulous operators can privately buy unapproved, uncertified Chinese avian flu vaccines through Taobao and use them covertly in Taiwan. This not only becomes a major loophole in Taiwan's animal disease prevention, but is also a bioterrorism issue that national security agencies should pay attention to.

What is worrying is that the quality of Chinese avian flu vaccines varies widely, genuine and fake products are hard to tell apart, and there is no third-party certification body or government agency to verify them. If the virus inactivation is incomplete, it can instead easily spread the avian flu virus. Since most sellers of vaccines or veterinary drugs on Taobao are individual proprietors or small businesses, their ability to ensure quality is doubtful. Once illegal operators in Taiwan order smuggled goods through Taobao, they not only break the law, but may also bring avian flu virus strains circulating in China into Taiwan, harming the poultry industry and public health.

Continue Reading

Small Duck Farms Hidden in the Fields: A Ticking Avian Flu Bomb