Taiwan's customs officials issue a fine of NT$200,000 ($9,369) to a traveller for attempting to bring a lunch box containing pork into the country.

Taiwan’s customs officials have issued a fine of NT$200,000 ($9,369) to a traveller for attempting to bring a lunch box containing pork into the country.

The Indonesian national had arrived from Hong Kong on April 30 when a quarantine dog sniffed out the “roast chicken and pork combo”, said the Taiwanese Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency.

The traveller was reportedly unable to pay the fine and deported.

Taiwan introduced fines of NT$200,000 for bringing pork products to the island from countries affected by African swine fever (ASF) following an outbreak in China in 2018.

Fines increase to NT$1 million for subsequent breaches of quarantine.

  • FuglyDuckEnglish
    2•6 months ago

    And let’s be real, there’s no reason to put that “(maybe)” in there. Are you suggesting the dude was like, “Ahahaha, my dastardly plan is in motion! I’m going to snuggle 4oz of pork hidden away in my lunch, in direct violation of import controls. It’s so clever because I have absolutely no discernable reason I would want to do this on purpose!!!”

    No.

    I’m saying he might have known that pork was banned and didn’t think it was that big of a deal. that happens all the time.

    Except it’s actually a really big deal. The ban on pork, specifically, is to prevent ASF from entering the local herd.

    Bio controls are one of the few ways to prevent spread; and it takes all of five minutes to check what is or isn’t banned.

    Further more he could have declared it- “hey I have this pork lunch,” which would have led to a very different conversation.

    And what are you recommending me check? Google every item on the “ingredients” list on my coke zero to make sure I’m not smuggling red dye number 33 into a country that bans it?

    It was literally called “chicken and pork combo.” Not exactly hidden.

    You don’t have to google anything- except maybe to find their customs website where it’s all very plainly stated.

    There are a dozen travel advisory warnings about pork products, specifically, and clearly stating that all pork is barred from entry.

    More generally, meat and dairy products are almost always barred from entry (along with most every kind of ag product in general.)

    • @[email protected]English
      3•6 months ago

      I can’t find the pork ban on the link you provided. The closest I saw was “Quarantine inspection of animals, plants and their derived products” which isn’t a prohibition of anything in particular, and the link to the relevant authority literally goes to a dead page.

      • FuglyDuckEnglish
        5•6 months ago

        If you were able to find the quarantine inspection the. You probably found the Items subject to other laws

        That literally says all live animals and product s from them are banned (with a few exceptions that wouldn’t apply.)

        You don’t get to not spend five minutes checking customs before traveling to another country and pretend like you’re the victim for getting dinged.

        Particularly since the customs agent is specifically asking if you have anything. “Do you have any food with you…?” (This would be your last chance to declare it).