Friday, January 23, 2009

Officials seize illegal animal products from China

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Quarantine officials working in collaboration with customs inspectors seized undeclared animal products carried by three inbound passengers from China Thursday, according to the Council of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine.




The products, including 3.3 kg of ham, 16.4 kg of duck meat, 1 kg of pork meatballs and 1 kg of Yanpi -- a traditional Chinese snack made from pork and sweet potato starch -- were all illegally imported products and were destroyed on the spot after being confiscated, bureau officials said.

The officials noted that China is listed as an affected country for several diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, high-pathology bird flu virus H5N1, apple codling moth and guava fruit flies.

They warned of the risk of outbreaks and transmissions among humans of bird flu, pointing out that the Chinese health authorities have confirmed four human cases of the H5N1 virus found in Beijing, Shanxi, Shandong and Hunan provinces in less than two weeks, three of which have proved fatal.

The bureau urged inbound passengers not to carry animal or plant products, or other illegal goods into the country, but added that if they do so, they can dispose of such high-risk items in special quarantine bins provided in the airport terminal or apply for quarantine inspections. If they fail to do so, they will face fines of NT$3,000-NT$15,000 (US$90-US$450) or criminal prosecution

No comments: