Focus Taiwam
Date: 2019/09/05
By: Yang Shu-min and Chung Yu-chen

Taipei, Sept. 5 (CNA) All hand luggage brought into Taiwan by passengers from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei will be subject to customs checks starting Sept. 6 as part of the government's efforts to prevent African swine fever (ASF), which has spread across Asia, from reaching Taiwan.

Currently, the hand luggage of all travelers entering Taiwan from Myanmar, China, Russia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, North Korea and South Korea are subject to customs checks, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center for ASF.

Although there have been no reports of outbreaks of ASF in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, expanding hand luggage checks to include arrivals from those countries is a precautionary measure to keep the disease at bay, the center said.

Visitors from ASF-affected and high risk countries/areas who attempt to bring pork products into Taiwan are subject to a fine of NT$200,000 if they are first-time offenders, while repeat offenders face a fine of NT$1 million, according to Taiwan's regulations.    [FULL  STORY]