Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture admits it would be difficult to find out how Taiwan’s mango pineapples reached China. Regardless, to combat this type of theft in the future, the Cabinet has approved a bill that stipulates a prison term of up to three years for people found guilty of illegally exporting certain indigenous plants, fruit seedlings, seeds or their derivatives
Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Chen Junne-jih made the announcement when asked about reports that Taiwan’s Tainung No. 23 mango pineapple variety had been stolen and is being cultivated in China. Chen said the amendment to the Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act, approved by the Cabinet on March 16, aims to keep Taiwan’s quality crops in the country.
The proposed amendment, which needs to be approved by the Legislative Yuan to become law, stipulates that people who trade in identified seedlings, their derivatives or related products could face up to three years in prison or a fine of NT$600,000 to NT$3 million, or both.
[ NT1 = €0.03 ]
Source: taipeitimes.com