Ministry of Agriculture Warns Against Purchasing Overseas Meat Products, Violators Face Up to NT$1 Million Fine

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture has issued a strong warning against purchasing or importing meat products from overseas, emphasizing the need to safeguard Taiwan's status as an African Swine Fever (ASF) free zone. Violators may face fines of up to NT$1 million.

The Ministry released a press statement today through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA), urging consumers to follow three key principles when purchasing festive meat products like zongzi: verify 'legal sources,' reject 'overseas meat products,' and 'declare upon return' when re-entering Taiwan from abroad. These measures aim to protect Taiwan's recent reinstatement as an ASF-free zone by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

APHIA advises the public to choose domestically produced meat products with complete labeling during the festival. Purchasing untraceable overseas pork products online or carrying meat items from abroad is strictly prohibited, as such actions could jeopardize years of rigorous disease prevention efforts.

With a significant increase in travelers expected during the holiday, border control faces heightened challenges. In response, APHIA has enhanced inspection capacity at all international airports and ports, strengthening X-ray screening and quarantine dog patrols to block illegal meat imports. Random inspections of express deliveries and cargo shipments have also been intensified to ensure no loopholes in the biosecurity防线.

Taiwan confirmed an African Swine Fever case on October 21 last year, prompting a 15-day nationwide ban on pig movement and slaughter to contain the virus. The Ministry conducted three rounds of synchronized farm inspections across the country, successfully containing the outbreak. On April 6 this year, Taiwan was officially reinstated as an ASF self-declared free zone by WOAH.

APHIA emphasized that regaining ASF-free status is not the end, but a new beginning for national biosecurity. The agency calls on the public to remain vigilant and protect this hard-won achievement.