EPA Backtracks on Vehicular Restrictions Again|管制烏賊車 環保署:首波25年以上老車

New emission regulations target two-stroke motorcycles and older cars and trucks, and protests by vehicle owners have never stopped. Environmental Protection Administration Minister Lee Ying-yuan says he hopes to allay people's concerns and announced that the first wave of controls will only target vehicles that are 25 years or older.


Residents of central and southern Taiwan have had it with the horrendous air quality they are forced to live with on a daily basis. Along with environmental groups, they are lambasting the central government for its inability to resolve the problem. The Environmental Protection Administration recently revised laws to reduce vehicular pollution, targeting two-stroke motorcycles and older diesel cars and trucks in the first phase. This has roused the ire of vehicle owners, who blasted the government at a recent public hearing and asked what they are supposed to do if their vehicles don't meet the new standards.

(Their) air quality zones -- does this mean if it's polluted, you can't turn on the stove when you're in the kitchen or use the toilet if you're in the bathroom? This is totally putting the cart before the horse.

EPA Minister Lee Ying-yuan later held a press conference and claimed all the protests were the result of politically motivated parties trying to stir the pot. However, the EPA has reduced the initial three phases of restrictions targeting 124,000 diesel vehicles to just one phase targeting 43,000 diesel vehicles over 25 years old.

It was mentioned at the conference yesterday that car dealerships first hiked prices and then the government, out of the goodness of their heart, decided to give out NT$200,000 subsidies. Somehow, car dealers worked it so they could have their cake and eat it too. This is a huge pity...In the first year, cars over 25 years old should get priority.

The EPA says local air quality zone plans have not yet been finalized and there is still room for discussion. In addition, it will disclose the locations of all roadside inspection stations and offer guidance to disadvantaged vehicle owners. The EPA has already backtracked several times since announcing the new policy. Apart from the latest change, it is also now excluding cities and townships with a population under 200,000 from the two-stroke motorcycle ban. The EPA denies it is bowing to public pressure and says it always planned to implement the changes gradually.