Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/02
By: Yang Shu-min and Elizabeth Hsu
Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Anyone caught attempting to smuggle raw pork into Taiwan from
COA Deputy Minister Huang Chin-cheng (黃金城, file photo)
China, where a highly contagious and deadly disease is spreading through hog farms, will be slapped with a fine of NT$15,000 (US$488) — the maximum penalty for such a crime, the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture (COA) has announced.
The measure is part of strengthened efforts by the council to isolate Taiwan from the virus that causes African swine fever (ASF), which COA officials said will exact a heavy toll on Taiwan’s hog industry if it spreads to the island.
COA Deputy Minister Huang Chin-cheng (黃金城), who supervises the country’s livestock industry, told CNA Sunday that there are currently 5.43 million pigs being raised around Taiwan for an industry that has a production value of more than NT$100 billion annually.
Every day, approximately 22,000 pigs are slaughtered to meet domestic demand, Huang said, warning that it will be a serious problem if the ASF virus finds its way to Taiwan and infects local pigs. [FULL STORY]