Taiwan Authorities Enhance Checks After Farmer Falsifies Health Declaration, Sheep Carcass Tests Positive for Dioxins

Authorities in Taiwan are tightening scrutiny on meat products after a pig farmer in Yunlin was found to have submitted a fraudulent health declaration for a sheep destined for slaughter. The farmer, identified only by his surname Li, allegedly used the name of another registered farm, 'Yun Nong Livestock Farm,' to submit the required self-health declaration for a ewe experiencing lambing difficulties. This ewe was subsequently sent to a slaughterhouse, where routine testing revealed dioxin levels significantly above the legal limit.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests detected 4.6 pg/g fat for dioxins alone, surpassing the legal limit of 2.5 pg/g fat. The combined total of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls reached 6.1 pg/g fat, also exceeding the regulatory threshold of 4.0 pg/g fat. In response, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) announced that starting June 27, all local meat markets will be required to conduct handwriting comparisons on self-health declarations to prevent fraudulent submissions.

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we will be researching relevant mechanisms to reduce the risk of impersonation.

According to the Animal Industry Act, farms with fewer than 100 sheep do not require official registration. Li's farm, with fewer than 10 sheep, fell into this category. However, the BAPHIQ stated that local governments will maintain lists of such unregistered farmers. The agency is also investigating the source of the dioxin contamination, with tests on the environment, water, and feed currently underway. Feed test results are expected as early as June 28. The farmer's sheep have all been culled. Submitting a false health declaration violates the "Communicable Animal Disease Control Act," carrying a penalty of NT$50,000 to NT$1 million.

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Impersonating another farm's name on a self-health declaration violates the 'Communicable Animal Disease Control Act,' which carries a penalty of NT$50,000 to NT$1 million.