Christmas decorations marketed as “artificial,” such as trees and wreaths, might contain real plant materials, which must follow quarantine requirements to enter Taiwan, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said.
With Christmas approaching, many people are purchasing Christmas trees and wreaths online to decorate their homes.
However, some products ordered on overseas Web sites might contain prohibited items such as seeds, flowers or wood, the agency said.
Photo: CNA
Plant products must be processed in compliance with quarantine regulations and seeds, potted plants and live insects are not permitted to be imported to Taiwan, it said.
Many trees and wreaths marketed as “artificial” include real branches, leaves or pine cones, which must comply with quarantine regulations under the Plant Protection and Quarantine Act (植物防疫檢疫法), the agency said.
Pine cones and branches must be dried and processed, while wooden products must undergo treatment, such as staining or painting, to meet standards, it said.
If a buyer is unsure of the processing status of the product, it is best not to purchase it to avoid potential penalties, it added.
A person who illegally imports plants or related items can face penalties of up to three years in prison and fines of up to NT$150,000, it said.
Decorating vehicles for Christmas can also result in penalties, it said.
In other news, two vehicles decked out in brightly flashing Christmas lights were stopped by police officers in Kaohsiung late on Friday night.
Police stopped the vehicles after they drove through the intersection of Kongfong Road and Gueihua Road in Siaogang District (小港), fining each driver NT$1,800.
Under Article 16 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), unauthorized modifications to vehicle equipment, such as decorative lights, are subject to fines of NT$900 to NT$1,800, police said.
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