Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-08-20

The latest amendment to the Air Pollution Control Act will only affect a

portion of vehicles on the road. That’s the word from the deputy minister of the Environmental Protection Administration, Thomas Chan, on Monday.

According to the amendment, motorcycles that were manufactured before the end of 2003 must meet stricter emission standards by 2020. The new law also states that all large, diesel-powered vehicles that were manufactured before 2007 must also meet stricter standards by 2023.

The amendment has drawn controversy since its proposal, as many riders worry that it will forcefully phase out older motorcycles. Thomas Chan said Monday that the stricter standards are only aimed at two-stroke motorcycles and diesel-powered trucks manufactured before 2003. He said those vehicles are major sources of pollution.

Chan also said that the EPA has been providing subsidies to encourage owners of older vehicles to upgrade to newer, cleaner ones since 2008. The subsidies, Chan said, include discounts for purchasing newer vehicles and scrapping older ones.    [SOURCE]