The "Council of Agriculture" of Taiwan on Wednesday adopted stricter food, plant and animal import and quarantine rules for tourists.
Tourists must declare and have put into quarantine such goods as Peking roast duck, instant noodles with meat seasoning, sausage and fruit. Those who evade these procedures face penalties of at least 3,000 Taiwan dollars (about 93.75 U.S. dollars) and as much as 150,000 Taiwan dollars.
At such entry points as airports and harbors, many people were observed discarding prohibited items.
On Wednesday, quarantine officials seized 119 agricultural and animal products weighing a net 166 kg. Another 36.8 kg were voluntarily discarded by arriving tourists.
Taiwan quarantine staff said prohibited items included plants, insects, produce, seeds, dried plants and herbs and spices, as well as animals, meat and other animal products and products containing meat.
Anyone found bringing live animals from bird flu-affected areas will be fined up to 3 million Taiwan dollars and imprisoned for upto seven years.
Dried or glazed fruit is not affected, authorities said.
Source:Xinhua
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