Buying Meat Product from China Results in Lawsuit|中國仍是口蹄疫區 網購火腿腸入台遭起訴

Those who purchase items from abroad must pay attention to whether the goods are contraband. Parts of China are currently dealing with an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. However, a Taiwanese consumer recently purchased sausages from Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao. The item was confiscated at the customs, and the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office has pressed charge against the consumer.


Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao shows a wide selection of items upon searching, it also provides cooking tutorial videos for potential buyers. Many vendors on the platform even cover shipping to Taiwan. However, meat products from China are banned in Taiwan as parts of China are dealing with an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. In January, a woman surnamed Chuang purchased 8.55 kg of ham sausage from the platform for RMB 288. The items were seized at the customs, and the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office has pressed charge for violation of Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease.

The defendant, surnamed Chuang, should be aware that China has been listed as area with foot-and-mouth disease epidemic by the Council of Agriculture, and that (importing meat product from China) could result in imprisonment for up to 7 years.

The Agency of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said that, those who purchased processed meat product from abroad, such as dried meat, pork floss, chicken feet, even animal food for cats and dogs, must declare these items to the custom. And these items will not be permitted to enter Taiwan without a quarantine certificate. Items from areas with epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, cattle plague and African swine fever are strictly banned. Due to the ongoing African swine fever in China, the agency has asked that vendors on e-commerce platform must warn Taiwanese consumers of the products' origin. The agency said that it seized 609 contraband animal products from China last year alone.