The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday urged people not to buy zongzi (粽子, glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) or pork products from other countries ahead of next week’s Dragon Boat Festival, or risk a fine of NT$200,000 (US$6,214).
Local Chinese-language media outlets on Sunday reported that an Indonesian traveler was fined NT$200,000 upon their arrival in Taiwan from Hong Kong on April 30 for attempting to take their in-flight meal, which contained pork, through customs.
The traveler had packed their in-flight meal, which included roasted pork and chicken, in a container to take through customs, which is against regulations, the reports quoted Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) Deputy Director-General Hsu Jung-pin (徐榮彬) as saying.
Photo: Taipei Times
As the traveler could not pay the fine on site, they were repatriated and would be ordered to pay the next time they attempt to enter Taiwan, Hsu said.
In-flight meals or food provided on cruise ships are considered overseas products and are subject to quarantine regulations, meaning that meals containing meat, fresh fruit or vegetables are not permitted to be brought into Taiwan, he said.
In a news release issued yesterday, the APHIA urged people not to purchase zongzi, cured meat or other meat products from abroad, as they would be fined even for a first offense.
As of May 10, the agency found 53 cases of vendors allegedly selling foreign animal quarantine products, including 10 made of pork, on online shopping platforms this year, it said.
Data from previous years showed that most cases involving the online sale of foreign zongzi containing meat were discovered in the three months around Dragon Boat Festival, between May and July, it said.
Seventy-four percent (34 cases) of the seized foreign zongzi sold online in 2022 and 86 percent (12 cases) last year were discovered in that period, it said, adding that they were all from China, which is affected by African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.
People who advertise the online sale of foreign animal products that are subject to quarantine face a fine of up to NT$150,000, while those who illegally import pork products face up to seven years of imprisonment or a fine of up to NT$3 million, the APHIA said.
People who are confirmed to be the recipient of a postal package containing foreign pork products could face a NT$200,000 fine for a first offense and a NT$1 million fine for a second offense, it said.
Some local e-commerce sites can purchase items from other countries, so consumers should carefully check if the products they purchased are from abroad, and if they receive foreign animal or plant products that should be quarantined, they should call the agency’s report hotline 0900-039-131 for assistance in handling the items, it said.
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