Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/01/20
By: Wu Hsin-yun and William Yen

Photo courtesy of Taipei Customs

Taipei, Jan. 20 (CNA) A Chinese passenger who arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TTIA) from Shanghai has been fined NT$200,000 (US$6,477) for attempting to bring sausages into the country, Taipei Customs officials said Sunday.

The Chinese national, surnamed Zheng, failed to declare the 0.529 kilograms of sausages through customs, the officials said.

To prevent African swine fever (ASF) from reaching Taiwan, the government on Dec. 18, 2018 increased the fines for bringing in pork products from countries with ASF outbreaks, with first offenders liable to a fine of NT$200,000 and repeat offenders fined NT$1 million.

Since then, 63 people had been fined NT$200,000 as of Jan. 19 for attempting to violate the ban, according to data from the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ).    [FULL  STORY]