1. The“Reviewing, Implementation and Supervision Regulations for Rural Regeneration Plans” were announced.

2. An amended version of Article 38-1 of the “Agricultural Development Act” was announced.

3. Amendments were announced to Paragraphs 4, 5 and 17 of the “Directions for Loans for the Livestock and Poultry Industry in Improving Management Efficiency.”

4. New guidelines for novel applications of registered agro-pesticides (“label extensions”)—in this case 149 items covering starfruit, guava, wax apples, mulberry trees, figs, noni, and grapes—were announced.

5. President Ma Ying-jeou visited the Penghu Islands to inspect afforestation and greenification projects. Since the formation of the “Penghu Afforestation Working Group” in 1992, the COA has actively promoted afforestation work in Penghu, and has thus far completed 1994 hectares of woodlands, covering about 15.72% of the total land area of Penghu County.

6. The COA attended a conference convened by the Negotiating Group on Trade Rules of the World Trade Organization in Geneva on the subject of subsidies to the fisheries industry. We expressed our country’s position on issues such as motor fuel subsidies, construction of harbor facilities, and social welfare targeting those in the industry. We further emphasized the importance of fisheries management with respect to balancing subsidy rules and development of the fisheries industry.

7. At the 35th Taiwan-Japan Conference on Economics and Trade, Taiwan raised a motion requesting Japan to accelerate the implementation of the “Monitoring Work Program for Exportation of Fresh Mango and Papaya from Taiwan.” Japan agreed, and the program was expected to be implemented during the fresh fruit exporting season in 2011.

8. The COA hosted the 2010 US-Taiwan Conference on Cooperation in Agricultural Sciences. The conference adopted five cooperative programs for 2011, aiming at constructing a system for prevention of major diseases and pests that affect plants or animals, and at cultivating manpower needed for sustainable development in the agriculture sector.

9. Events were held in five townships in Hualien and Taitung counties, incorporating “seas of flowers” planted on fallow land, to promote tourism and leisure in those counties.

10. Faced with an oversupply of domestic eggs, in order to stabilize egg prices at the point of production, the COA (a) counseled firms to expand exports and (b) adopted market adjustment measures (including reduced production, halting the raising of hens, and upgraded marketing efforts).

11. The 28th Joint Board Meeting of the Taiwan-German Association for Economic and Social Research was held, focusing on the theme of climate change.

12. Activities were held to exhibit, promote, and sell to consumers rice and related products from government-led Rice Production and Marketing Special Zones, in an effort to increase the visibility and sales of premium domestically produced rice.

13. The 2010 ceremony to recognize outstanding persons in the field of agriculture was held, at which 12 persons were honored for their contributions to agriculture.

14. A ceremony was held to recognize outstanding engineering and construction projects in the field of agriculture. Firms were sited for work of exceptional quality, and individuals for their personal dedication and contributions.

15. The 2010 event for evaluating and rewarding wines or liqueurs produced under the “Farm Wineries” program of the COA was held. Outstanding makers and their products were awarded prizes, domestic wines or liqueurs that had won international prizes were on display, and the finest of the countryside wines and liqueurs of Taiwan were available for purchase. Such events are helping to increase the visibility and reputation of products being developed under this program.

16. A ceremony was held to award prizes in the area of premium-quality seafood, and to award to such seafoods the right to carry the label certifying them as “premium” under the COA’s “Seafood Banquet” (Hai Yan) program.

17. The second annual ceremony was held to honor and publicize the “Top Ten Most Attractive Fishing Harbors” in Taiwan.

18. An exhibition of agricultural technology opened at the EXPO Dome of the Taipei International Flora Expo. On display were new agro-technologies, new plant varieties, and new products, demonstrating that agriculture in Taiwan has incorporated modern technology and is now capable of going beyond traditional crops and methods and coming up with high-end sophisticated products with strong international competitiveness.

19. The COA in its entirety received ISO 27001 certification for information security and management systems. With the sole exception of the offices of the Executive Yuan, the COA is the first government agency to get comprehensive international certification for information security, showing the determination of the COA to honor the government’s pledge to protect the personal information of individuals and prevent the leaking of secret or sensitive information.

20. The COA sponsored the first-ever event to bring together business people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to discuss commercial and trade possibilities for a variety of agricultural goods from Taiwan, such as: CAS-certified agroproducts, GAP-certified fruits and vegetables, products of organic farming, wines and liqueurs from the “Farm Wineries” program, and the “Top 100 Products of Farmers and Fishermen’s Associations.” Major chainstores in Taiwan and 500 leading figures from mainland China in the fields of agriculture and food products were invited to attend.