1219 African Swine Fever"After heavy fines, only seven violations at customs today! Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine urges: discard meat in disposal bins, not toilets
To curb the entry of African swine fever contaminated meat into Taiwan, the Council of Agriculture raised the fines on the 18th. Those who violate the rules by bringing meat from countries where African swine fever has occurred in the past three years will be fined 200,000 yuan for a first offense and 1 million yuan for a repeat offense. After the hefty fines were imposed, the number of violations showed a slight downward trend compared with the previous few days. From 4 p.m. yesterday (the 18th) to 4 p.m. today (the 19th), there were 7 cases of illegal meat smuggling at customs, of which 1 was fined 200,000 yuan, 5 were fined 30,000 yuan, and 1 was fined 10,000 yuan.
7 violations on the 19th, sparking questions about targeting mainland spouses? BAPHIQ: Disease prevention knows no nationality
According to statistics from the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine of the Council of Agriculture, from 4 p.m. yesterday (the 18th) to 4 p.m. today (the 19th), there were 7 cases of illegal meat smuggling at customs, including 1 fined 200,000 yuan (bringing in Chinese pork products), 5 fined 30,000 yuan (3 cases involving non-pork meat from China, 2 from Vietnam), and 1 fined 10,000 yuan (1 case involving an undeclared traveler from Singapore).
Among them, the highest fine of 200,000 yuan involved a Chinese national. Of the 5 cases fined 30,000 yuan, two Taiwan nationals and one Chinese national brought meat in from China, while one Taiwan national and one Vietnamese national brought meat in from Vietnam. The other case, fined 10,000 yuan for failure to declare, involved a Singaporean traveler bringing meat into Taiwan from Singapore.
Because the majority of those illegally bringing in meat were mainland spouses, some people questioned whether this was "selective enforcement." Peng Ming-hsing, head of the Animal Quarantine Division of BAPHIQ, said disease prevention knows no borders, and enforcement does not target nationality; it only looks at whether there is a violation of the law.
Can canned meat be brought in? BAPHIQ: Better not; if brought, quarantine inspection should be applied for proactively
In response to controversy over incoming travelers carrying canned goods, BAPHIQ advised that if it cannot be determined whether the product being carried qualifies as canned, it is best not to bring it. If it has already been brought, travelers should proactively apply for quarantine inspection at the BAPHIQ animal and plant quarantine counter before entering customs.
Large amounts of meat discarded in toilets? BAPHIQ: If meat is brought in unintentionally, please discard it in the "disposal bin"
Today some media reported that large amounts of meat from epidemic areas had been found discarded by travelers in airport toilets. Peng Ming-hsing said this is currently being confirmed with the airport, but urged the public that discarding meat from epidemic areas in toilets may allow it to be carried out by the public or staff through other channels. Travelers who illegally bring meat into the country should still put the illegal meat uniformly into disposal bins. If citizens discover similar cases of meat from epidemic areas being discarded at will, they should also report them to disease prevention authorities for handling.
Is the dead pig on the Yilan coast African swine fever meat? BAPHIQ: Pending confirmation
In addition, a dead pig was found today on the coast of Wujie, Yilan, raising high concern. BAPHIQ said that according to the judgment of the Yilan Animal Disease Control Center, African swine fever has initially been ruled out, and samples have been sent urgently to the Animal Health Research Institute for testing. The results must be confirmed as quickly as possible.
Online rumors say diseased pigs are still edible after cooking? BAPHIQ: They will not enter the food chain
Regarding online claims that the meat of diseased pigs can be eaten after cooking, BAPHIQ explained that under our country's animal disease prevention and meat inspection regulations, pigs suffering from African swine fever will be placed under movement control and will not enter slaughterhouses, nor may they be slaughtered for human consumption. If a veterinarian finds before or after slaughter at a slaughterhouse that a pig is suspected of having African swine fever, the carcass will be judged as waste and destroyed, and will not enter the food chain.