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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Health & Science

Yunlin Lamb Exceeds Dioxin Limits; Farmer Suspected of Forging Health Declaration

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Yunlin County authorities are investigating a sheep farmer suspected of forging health declarations after its meat was found to exceed dioxin limits.
  • The farmer, identified by the surname Li, allegedly used the name of another farm, 'Yun Nong Livestock Farm,' to issue a false 'Livestock Health Declaration.'
  • Prosecutors have launched an investigation, searching the suspect's premises and questioning related parties to determine the source of the contamination and whether other contaminated meat entered the market.

An investigation is underway in Yunlin County, Taiwan, after a batch of locally slaughtered lamb was found to contain dioxin levels exceeding regulatory limits. Authorities suspect the farmer, identified by the surname Li, of forging official documents to conceal the contamination.

The case came to light when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a dioxin testing project on meat products. A sheep, transported for slaughter on July 1, was found to have dioxin residues. Investigators allege that Li used the name of 'Yun Nong Livestock Farm' to issue a false 'Livestock Health Declaration,' potentially violating forgery laws.

The lamb, found to have dioxin exceeding the limit after testing, has absolutely no relation to my livestock farm, yet I was implicated for no reason and feel it is an undeserved disaster.

— Yun Nong Livestock Farm OwnerExpressing distress over being wrongly associated with the contaminated lamb.

Yunlin prosecutors acted swiftly upon receiving intelligence, collaborating with the county's Agriculture Department and Animal and Plant Disease Control Office. A special task force was formed to investigate. Searches were conducted at Li's sheep-raising facilities, where relevant documents were seized, and Li, along with the owner of Yun Nong Livestock Farm, were summoned for questioning.

The owner of Yun Nong Livestock Farm expressed distress, stating the farm has no connection to the contaminated lamb and has been wrongly implicated. He clarified that Li had not purchased sheep from his farm in two years and that the health declarations, including signatures, appeared to be forged. The investigation aims to trace the source of the dioxin contamination, examine Li's farming practices, feed sources, and testing records, and determine if any other contaminated meat has entered the market.

Li had purchased sheep from the livestock farm before for slaughter and sale, but Li had not purchased sheep from the livestock farm for two years. Furthermore, the number of sheep indicated on the health declaration issued by Li did not match, and the signatures were also forged. The sheep that exceeded the limit were not raised by 'Yun Nong Livestock Farm.'

— Yun Nong Livestock Farm OwnerDetailing the alleged forgery and lack of connection to the contaminated sheep.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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