Taiwan intercepts third case of swine fever contaminated Chinese pork
A sample of China-produced pork sausages ditched by tourists at Kaohsiung International Airport was again found to have been contaminated with the African swine fever virus, the Council of Agriculture announced Friday.
3 December 2018
2 minute read
By: Taiwan News reports that the incident marks the third time Taiwan has intercepted pork meat products carrying the virus following cases reported on 31 October and 13 November.
South Korea, Japan, and Thailand have reported similar cases over the past months, with sausages and other pork products imported by Chinese travelers testing positive for the virus.
Visitors are warned not to attempt smuggling dubious meat products into Taiwan, as such actions could cost them a fortune.
An amendment to the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease passed a third reading on 30 November, which will subject violators to fines between NT$10,000 (US$322) and NT$1 million (US$32,150), noted COA.
Since August, efforts have been ramped up to conduct inspection at immigration checkpoints targeting visitors arriving from China, so as to keep undeclared pork products from entering the country.
A total of 265 violations involving fines of NT$15,000 were recorded between 1 September and 25 November, among which 160 violators were from China and 73 from Vietnam, according to Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine.
