Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/12/31
By: Yang Shu-min and Elizabeth Hsu

CNA file photo

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) The Council of Agriculture (COA) is planning to deploy more sniffer dogs and install X-ray scanners at speedy immigration clearance gates at airports after finding the number of travelers trying to smuggle meat products into Taiwan has not declined despite heavy fines.

The fine for bringing in pork or pork products from African swine fever (ASF)-infected territories, including China, Hong Kong, Macao, Russia and some European nations, was raised to NT$200,000 (US$6,564) on Dec. 18, with second offenders facing a NT$1 million fine.

The COA thought the stiffer punishments might work as a deterrent, but have turned out to be useless, said COA deputy chief Huang Chin-cheng (黃金城) Monday.

People keep coming in with banned products, he said, adding that “raising fines is not an issue any more.”    [FULL  STORY]