
Many are returning from the Spring Festival. To prevent the spread of African swine fever, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) began investigations of meat products and reminds the public not to bring in meat or pork products after the festival. The maximum penalty is a fine of NT$ 1 million. Mailing or purchasing meat products from abroad are also considered an offense and violators can be sentenced to a maximum of 7 years and NT$ 3 million.
The African swine fever can remain in frozen pork for a long time. It can also be present in cooked meat. The NIA reminds the public not to purchase meat products without a quarantine certificate or the following goods: Meat dumplings, moon cakes containing meat, ham, hot dogs, pork or beef floss, and pet feed containing meat with unknown origins. They must notify the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine.
Pets for cats and dogs are becoming easier to purchase from online stores, but some of them might be illegally imported and do not have qualified inspection licenses. You must pay attention when buying the following online: Pet snacks, jerky, and chewing bones)
What will happen if our pets get infected from consuming online-bought pet feeds?
Do not buy pet feeds from unknown online sources. If the products contain African swine fever, it will not only harm our pets, but violators will also be fined.
The NIA is improving their investigations of meat products in Taiwan. It also promotes the "3 NO's" to prevent the spread of the virus.
"NO" bringing in imported meat products
"NO" buying imported meat products online
"NO" buying meat products with unknown origins
Possession and ingestion of pork products with unknown origins can lead to a maximum penalty of NT$ 1 million. Bringing meat products into Taiwan has a maximum fine of NT$ 1 million. For meat products bought online, violators can be imprisoned for up to 7 years with a maximum of a 3 million dollar fine. The public is reminded not to bring in meat products and not to buy meat products online from unknown sources.