121
submitted 5 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] blargerer@kbin.social 11 points 5 months ago

If you travel internationally you really should scan a checklist for banned products. Especially around food and produce if you intend to bring any, there is always something on there.

[-] testfactor@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago

I googled what not to bring into Taiwan, and this was the first link that came up: https://support.carousell.com/hc/en-us/articles/115008674167-List-of-Prohibited-Content-Taiwan

I can see pursuing that and not putting together that your lunch violates it. It has a big red text about animal product imports, but specifies that it's about animals under quarantine, which makes it seem like more of a livestock restriction. Especially when it starts referencing legal codes instead of giving you any kind of meaningful explanation.

Combine that with the fact that the dude was Indonesian and routed through a Hong Kong airport, and I think it's not wildly unreasonable that he would have missed the memo, even if he'd done his due diligence.

And I stand by that, even if he'd not done his due diligence, the punishment is excessive. This feels like more of a "we confiscate the offending material, slap you with a $500 fine, and send you on your way."

It's not like he was smuggling in livestock. He had the equivalent of a carnitas burrito from Chipotle in his bag.

[-] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 4 points 5 months ago

I was I clined to agree with you until I got to section 5.

[-] testfactor@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Fair. I'll admit, I did start skimming at some point and you're right, it's pretty explicit in section 5 and I just didn't see it.

It's a wall of text though for sure. I probably would have skimmed it in the same way if I was looking to travel there, lol. Which is on me for sure, but I also wouldn't expect the penalty for skimming the list and missing something to be ten grand out of my pocket, lol.

[-] Kanzar@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

A chick got pulled for Subway: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/forgotten-subway-sandwich-costs-australian-traveller-jessical-lee-2664-on-arrival-home-20220721-h2576l.html

So it's not surprising to me for being hauled up over a lunch... I'm likely biased as Australia and NZ have long been very strict about biosecurity.

What does seem strange to me is that in Australia, if I bring in something they don't like, they turf it and let me through?? No fine or anything. Admittedly I go through the "Declare" line, and am open about what I'm unsure about.

[-] elmicha@feddit.de 2 points 5 months ago

I don't know how you ended up on a page for a Taiwanese marketplace and didn't realise it.

But on the other hand the official customs page doesn't have anything about animal products.

this post was submitted on 27 May 2024
121 points (100.0% liked)

World News

38969 readers
2220 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS