Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching! The Hsinchu Station of the National Immigration Agency reminds everybody not to bring meat products into the country to avoid heavy fines

(Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network) – The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and the annual reunion celebrations will usually have moon cakes and barbecue. However, if the meat used is contaminated, the happy celebration can turn into a sad tragedy. Recently, a case of smuggling of meat contaminated with the African swine fever virus was reported in the country. Inspectors seized from a Vietnamese mother and her daughter imported pork products that were found to have the African swine fever virus. It was also confirmed that the said pork products had been sent to more than 1,000 locations throughout Taiwan. Whether it is ignorance of the law or a deliberate act of breaking the law, such behavior is a breach in Taiwan’s epidemic prevention. In addition to causing panic, it will also threaten the health of Taiwan’s pigs.

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Prevention and blocking of the "African Swine Fever" across Taiwan. Photo/Provided by Hsinchu Service Station

To prevent new immigrants from breaking the law because they are not familiar with the relevant laws and regulations regarding African swine fever, the National Immigration Agency (NIA, 移民署) launched a prevention and control information campaign for new immigrants. In addition, the NIA once again urged the new immigrants to memorize the "3 against 1 million" mantra-that is, "Do not bring meat products into the country from abroad", "Do not buy meat products online from abroad and send them to Taiwan" and "Do not go to animal farms abroad". Bringing meat products into the country is a violation of the regulations, and there is “a fine of up to NT$1 million." Those who purchase meat products online from infected areas and send to Taiwan, can be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine of up to NT$3 million.

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People are reminded not to purchase meat products online. Photo/Provided by Hsinchu Service Station

Lan Shao-yu (藍紹譽), director of the Hsinchu City Service Station (新竹市服務站) of the NIA, said that the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and it is everybody’s responsibility to protect the health of Taiwan’s pigs. Recently, the swine fever epidemic abroad is severe. The Hsinchu City Service Station once again reminds new immigrants not to visit pig and livestock farms and not to bring meat products into Taiwan when they travel back to their home country. Those who violate the law will be fined up to NT$1 million.

In addition, for those who are homesick and are not able to return to their home country due to the epidemic, they are advised not to purchase foreign meat products online to send to Taiwan. Violators of the law will face a fixed-term imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine of up to NT$3 million. It is hoped that everyone will remind each other and will work together to prevent the epidemic during the festive Mid-Autumn Festival season, so that everyone can enjoy healthy food and a happy reunion.