Keelung Customs (KLC) pointed out that several cases of trafficking live animals or plants had been discovered at its maritime express handling units. These animals and plants were mostly purchased through cross-border online shopping, including pitcher plant, alfalfa hay, red spitting cobra, Samar cobra, hundred pace viper, red-eared turtle, and so on. Live animals and plants could not only transmit infectious diseases, but also have negative influences on the ecosystem and agricultural profits. KLC called on the public not to make live animals and plants cross-border online purchase.
KLC further explained that according to Paragraph 2, Article 3 of Regulations Governing Customs Clearance Procedures for Maritime Express Consignments, live animals and plants are not allowed to be cleared through maritime express handling units. Furthermore, Customs is responsible for border control; if any live animals or plants imported without permission are discovered and violate any of the relative laws such as Act on Wildlife Conservation, Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases, Plant Protection and Quarantine Act, Foreign Trade Act, Customs Anti-smuggling Act, and so on, Customs will transfer the trafficking cases to the competent authorities accordingly such as Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, MOA, or International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. The competent authorities are responsible for imposing penalties on importers who could face a 7-year imprisonment and a heavy fine.
KLC emphasized that making live animals or plants cross-border online purchase out of personal benefits or curiosity is tremendously harmful to wildlife conservation and the ecosystem. Illegal trading always induce damage; KLC called on the public not to make live animals and plants cross-border online purchase in case of being penalized due to violation of laws. For more information, please contact Bali Branch, KLC at (02)2610-1108 ext. 5015.