Attention! NIA will launch new investigations to prevent invasion of the African swine fever during CNY

According to the 4wayvoice, Chinese New Year is around the corner and together with the immigration policy and quarantine measures, it is expected that there will be at least 30,000 new immigrants returning to their hometowns for a family reunion.

To prevent the possible invasion of the African swine fever (ASF), the NIA will launch new investigations and remind new immigrants to not bring back pork and meat products from the infected countries (zones). Individuals who violate the rules will be fined up to a maximum of NT$1,000,000.

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The NIA reminds new immigrants not to bring meat products when entering Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by the NIA)

National Immigration Agency (NIA) stated that many new immigrants, including the ones from Vietnam and China, return home to visit relatives during the Lunar New Year and they usually bring some gifts & food back to Taiwan.

However, the ASF is still going strong worldwide. Besides Asian and European countries, countries in the Americas have also fallen into the infected zones.

To protect pigs in Taiwan, the NIA continues to share the relevant information & announcements in multiple languages, reminding new immigrants not to bring or purchase meat products from Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines and other regions and countries that have been declared as ASF-infected areas.

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Everyone should come together to prevent African swine fever. (Photo / Provided by the Council of Agriculture)

Besides targeting foreign shops, snack bars and warehouses, NIA will also send the messages on live broadcast platforms that are popular among foreign national users. It is suggested to buy meat products with Taiwan in origin.

Moreover, a foreign student planning to study in Taiwan was fined NT$200,000 when a canned ham was found in his luggage. Unfortunately, his dream of studying in Taiwan was ruined as he was unable to pay a large amount of fine and enter Taiwan.

NIA emphasized that the people bringing pork products from ASF-infected zones will be fined up to 1 million New Taiwan dollars. Mailing or buying pork products online from abroad is more serious and will be punished fixed-term imprisonment of less than one year and a fine of less than 3 million New Taiwan dollars.