Taiwan’s EPA raises the maximum penalty for industrial air pollution from NT$1 million to NT$20 million
Taiwan News
Date: 2019/03/19
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Polluted Taipei skyline. (By Central News Agency)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) on Monday (March 18) announced draft regulations that would raise the maximum fine for violations of the Air Pollution Control Act (空氣污染防制法) by factories from NT$1 million (US$32,000) to NT$20 million (US$649,000).
In the past, EPA air pollution regulations have been criticized by the public for having “loud thunder, but tiny drops of rain,” with many complaining that the maximum fine of NT$1 million does not have enough of a deterrent effect. In response, the EPA on Monday announced draft guidelines which will raise the maximum penalty for breaching the Air Pollution Control Act to NT$20 million.
However, to conform to the principle of proportionality, the minimum fine for minor violations has been lowered. For example, the minimum penalty for burning in an open space has been lowered from NT$5,000 to NT$1,200.
Department of Air Quality Protection and Noise Control Director-General Wu Sheng- chung (吳盛忠) said that the penalties will be more closely tailored for specific circumstances: “If the violation of the air pollution act is serious, we will levy a heavy fine, but if it is a mild infraction, we will amend the law to make the penalty lighter,” reported PTS News. [FULL STORY]
