January

• Announced amendments to: (1) some provisions of the Regulations Governing the Certification of Premium Agricultural Produce; (2) Paragraph 3 and supplements 1-16, 1-21, and 1-22 of the Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Animals and Animal Products; (3) import restrictions affecting countries with incidences of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

• Altered the Veterinary Drugs Control Act as follows: added articles 14-1 and 14-1; deleted Article 12-3; and amended articles 12, 14, 26, 33, 35, 36, 40, and 43.

• Worked with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to announce Standards for Veterinary Drug Residue Limits in Foods covering eight pharmaceuticals and 77 items.

• Representatives met for the 10th Taiwan-Canada Meeting on Agricultural Cooperation.

• The COA assisted businesses to organize a group to participate in IPM Essen (an international horticultural trade fair held in Essen, Germany).

• Sent representatives to participate in the 1st meeting of members of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO).

• Vietnam gave special-case approval to the import of 55 head of Duroc pigs from breeding farms in Taiwan; they arrived in Hanoi in January of 2013.

• Japan dispatched inspectors to Taiwan to jointly conduct with Taiwan inspectors quarantine treatment for pomelo, ponkan, and grapes to be exported from Taiwan to Japan.

• The COA accepted applications under the program to adjust the production structure and revitalize use of fallow farmland.

• Credit departments of 53 farmers’ and fishermen’s associations began offering renminbi (RMB) foreign exchange services.

• Fishermen’s associations began accepting applications for subsidies for gasoline used for fishing boats (barques) in the 2012 fiscal year.

• The COA organized the following promotional activities: (1) a press conference recommending use of fish for Lunar New Year feasts; (2) an exhibition of items produced under a program for passing along traditional culture and adapting traditional culture to creative new products (the items in this exhibition were produced by people in rural areas in Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, and Chiayi counties); (3) the 3rd annual awards event for creative works of art made from rice straw; (4) an event (held in Dacun Township, Changhua County) to draw attention to rural rejuvenation in Taiwan, promote rural tourism, and provide a platform to outstanding community rejuvenation personnel who had visited Japan to share what they learned about rural rejuvenation in that country.

February

• The COA finalized and announced standards for determining behavior by agro-product testing and certification organizations that violates their duties under the Agricultural Production and Certification Act.

• Announced amendments to: (1) articles 1 and 22 of the Regulations for Ownership and Utilization of Scientific and Technological Research and Development Results by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan; and (2) Article 7 and Supplement 3-12 (regarding caprine and ovine embryo imported from the US) of the Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Animals and Animal Products.

• Distributed written notifications of amendments to the regulations governing the hosting of agricultural specialists or businesspeople from mainland China by the COA or its subordinate agencies and institutions.

• Assisted businesses to organize a group to attend the Tokyo “Big Egg” Orchid Festival; participants from Taiwan won several medals in the individual flower categories (including a first place and a bronze medal for Cattleya orchids plus one second place and a silver medal for moth orchids), and won 11 awards in the category of scenic design and display.

• The COA sent out lists, on the occasion of the 2013 re-elections for farmers’ associations officials, of persons qualified to be selected as directors of farmers’ associations; we also requested farmers’ associations at all levels to conduct their selection and hiring in accordance with the Farmers Association Act and the Regulations Governing the Selection and Appointment of the General Manager of Farmers Associations.

• The COA organized the following activities: (1) the awards ceremony for the nation’s top ten scenic harbors; (2) a ceremony marking the opening to traffic of access roads to the Tengjhih Forest Recreation Area; (3) an evaluation of the accomplishments of various regional offices of the Forestry Bureau (the Luodong and Chiayi district offices were named 2012 outstanding organizations for exceptional use of volunteer services in national forests).

March

• The COA finalized and announced the Regulations for Fishing Vessels Catching Mackerel and Jacks.

• Announced amendments to some provisions of the Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Plants or Plant Products into the Republic of China.

• Worked with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to announce Standards for Veterinary Drug Residue Limits in Foods covering five pharmaceuticals and 29 items.

• The COA engaged in several sets of bilateral talks: (1) We participated in the 7th round of talks over the “Trade and Investment Framework Agreement” (TIFA) with the US; (2) We held the 4th Taiwan-Thailand Conference on Agricultural Cooperation; and (3) COA Deputy Minister Wang Cheng-teng led a group to Vietnam to attend the 8th Taiwan-Vietnam Conference on Agricultural Cooperation, and also met with Taiwanese businesspeople based in Vietnam.

• The COA sent representatives to participate in the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

• Assisted businesses to organize groups to participate in: (1) the Myanmar Agricultural Technology Exhibition; (2) FoodEx Japan 2013; and (3) 2013 Seafood Expo North America/ Seafood Processing North America.

• Completed Taiwan’s National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, as part of a global effort to eradicate IUU fishing operations.

• The COA processed applications from farmers and fishermen for educational subsidies for their children for the second semester of the 2012-2013 academic year.

• Completed elections for 1,411 representatives and 645 committee chairmen at 37 fishermen’s associations nationwide.

• Held the joint unified examinations for newly entering staff at irrigation associations.

• The COA began to implement new measures at Alishan National Forest Recreation Area to regulate the number visitors by requiring group reservations.

• The COA funded Taichung City and Hualien County to hold large-scale disaster response exercises.

• March activities or events organized by the COA included the following: (1) a seedling giveaway, handing out 3000 seedlings for a variety of species (including rhododendron, camellia, osmanthus, and podocarpus); (2) the awards ceremony for the 5th national contest for poems or paintings created by children at leisure farms; (3) the 2013 Arbor Day event, at which President Ma Ying-jeou planted a tree symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

April

• The COA finalized and announced Regulations Governing Policy-Oriented Special Agricultural Loans.

• Announced amendments to: (1) some provisions of the Enforcement Rules of the Animal Protection Act;

(2) Article 4, Supplement 3 (regarding standards for evaluating poultry prices) of the Standards for the Organization of the Compensation Appraisal and Calculation Committee and for Appraisals;

(3) Determination Criteria for Fines for Violations of Paragraph 1, Article 17 of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Act; and (4) articles 3 and 4 of the Regulations for Rewards for Reporting of Counterfeit, Forbidden and Inferior Veterinary Drugs.

• Taiwan and Japan signed a bilateral fisheries agreement.

• Taiwan and South Africa signed a cooperation agreement covering the farming, forestry, and fishing industries. The COA sent representatives to participate in the 111th meeting of the Fisheries Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

• COA Minister Chen Bao-ji led a group to attend the 4th Global Feed and Food Conference, organized by the International Feed Industry Federation and held in South Africa.

• Representatives from the COA participated in the Cross-Strait Conference and Working Group Meeting on Protection of Plant Varieties.

• The COA assisted businesses to organize groups to participate in: (1) Hortiflorexpo China (Shanghai) 2013, and (2) the 2013 European Seafood Exposition/Seafood Processing Europe.

• The COA supervised the completion of the 2013 elections for officials of fishermen’s associations and farmers’ associations at all levels.

• There were several noteworthy developments in the Alishan area: (1) The COA signed an administrative contract with the Taiwan Railways Administration commissioning the latter to assist in operating the Alishan Forest Railway (AFR). (2) The AFR signed a “sister railway” agreement with Japan’s Kurobe Gorge Railway. (3) The AFR’s Zhaoping Station was formally opened. (4) A disaster evacuation trail was formally opened linking two Alishan Township Aboriginal communities, Lijia and Shanmei.

• The COA funded Hsinchu County to hold a large-scale disaster response exercise.

• The COA initiated a new information service in interactive kiosk systems installed in convenience store chains; the service provides information about rural leisure, recreation, and travel.

• Six rare “pygmy killer whales” (members of the oceanic dolphin family) that had become beached in Checheng Township, Pingtung County, were rescued and released back into the wild.

• April activities organized by the COA included: (1) the 2013 Shennong Awards for the nation’s Top Ten farmers, and (2) a promotional activity, centered around traditional shuijiao (pork dumplings), for the domestic pork industry.

May

• The COA announced the addition of Article 69-1 to the Fisheries Act.

• Finalized and announced the Regulations for Import of Grouper Feed.

• Announced amendments to: (1) Crop Grouping and Agro-Pesticide Extension of Authorization Practice Methods, and (2) Attachment 4—regarding the standards for testing and certification of rice for human consumption—of the Regulations Governing the Certification of Premium Agricultural Produce.

• Worked with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to announce “standards for veterinary drugs residues,” covering seven pharmaceuticals and 57 items.

• The COA sent representatives to participate in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s 17th annual meeting and 10th meeting of the Compliance Committee.

• The Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Committee held its first meeting.

• The COA assisted businesses to form groups to participate in: (1) the Hofex 2013 hospitality industry and food fair in Hong Kong; (2) the Sichuan International Tea Expo; (3) the Chelsea Flower Show (UK); and (4) Vietnam’s International Tea Expo.

• The COA gave assistance to farmers affected by two extreme weather situations: (1) We announced that Taichung City was a disaster area approved for low-interest natural- disaster recovery loans in the wake of the excessive rains of April, and announced that cash disaster-relief payments would be made for pears and Kyoho grapes in three specific districts of Taichung City (Hoping, Xinshe, and Waipu). (2) We conducted disaster-relief purchasing of damaged rice from areas being cultivated in the first growing season that were affected by heavy rains in mid-May.

• The National Farmers’ Association, ROC was formally founded.

• The COA issued school-fee subsidies for the children of farmers and fishermen; the payments, covering the second semester of the 2012-2013 academic year, totaled NT$748.9 million and assisted 92,108 children.

• Accepted and began processing (a) supplementary applications for state purchasing of rice for the first growing season of 2013, and (b) supplementary or revised applications for land brought back into use or brought under contract cultivation.

• In response to an incident in which a Philippines patrol boat fired on a Taiwanese fishing boat, killing one person, the COA froze all applications for Taiwanese fishing boat owners to hire any Philippines national to work on any ROC-flag fishing vessel, and also froze all applications by Philippines nationals to enter Taiwan by air in order to be hired as crew to go out to sea.

• The COA convened the 2013 first seminar of national agricultural chief administrative officials.

• Sent representatives to attend the 33rd meeting of the Executive Yuan’s joint task force on law enforcement against smuggling and illegal immigration.

• Completed courses on “laws and regulations governing agricultural land policy and land management” for the first half of the year for the staffs of agricultural agencies at the local and sub-local government level (municipalities, cities, counties, and townships).

• Inspectors from Japan and Korea came to Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung to conduct quarantine treatment for mango and lichee to be exported from Taiwan to both those countries.

• The nationwide policy of banning slaughtering of live poultry at traditional markets went into effect, and the COA began promoting two-stage incentive measures to facilitate compliance.

• May promotional or educational events organized by the COA included: (1) a lecture series on “water resources and biodiversity,” (2) selection of teams for the 3rd “College Students Returning to Rural Communities Competition,” (3) announcement of the selection of “100 Young Farmers,” and (4) a series of activities to mark “Water and Soil Conservation Month.”

• The COA held a conference on accessibility and uses of the Natural Resources and Ecological Databank.

June

• The COA announced amendments to: (1) Article 4 of the Regulations on Preferential Insurance for Owners of Powered Fishing Vessels, and (2) articles 3, 4, and 5 of the Agriculture Industrial Waste Reuse Management Regulations; on June 21 the COA announced that separate regulations entitled Agriculture Industrial Waste Reuse Management Methods were abolished.

• Finalized and released the Administrative Directions for the Quarantine Procedure for Rice Being Exported to Mainland China.

• Issued a clarification of the terms “port” and “station” contained in the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease (Article 34, Paragraph 1) and the Plant Protection and Quarantine Act (Article 17, Paragraph 1).

• Under Article 41-1 of the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease, it is up to the COA to define the terms “specific time period” and “designated types of animal disease” for the application of said article; in June of 2013 the COA announced that the “specific time period” would be July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 and that the “designated types of animal disease” referred to in the same article would be highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), hoof-and-mouth disease, and rabies.

• Korea announced that it would permit imports of fresh papaya from Taiwan.

• Taiwan and mainland China signed the Cross- Strait Agreement on Trade in Services.

• The 10 Taiwan-Australia Conference on Agricultural Cooperation was held.

• The COA was very active in international organizations in June, sending representatives to participate in: (1) the 85th annual meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and relevant sub-committees, held in Veracruz, Mexico; (2) the bilateral preparatory meeting for fisheries negotiations between Taiwan and the Philippines; (3) the 2nd annual meeting of APEC’s Oceans and Fisheries Working Group; (4) the 2013 meeting of delegations to BirdLife International, where Taiwan received a “Conservation Achievement Award”; and (5) the 4th meeting of APEC’s Experts Group on Illegal Fishing and Its Associated Trade.

• The COA hosted the 2013 cross-strait conference on inspection, quarantine, and testing of agro-products.

• The COA organized a “Taiwan Pavilion” for participation in the “Food Taipei” expo.

• Assisted businesses to form groups to participate in (1) the World Tea Expo held in the US, and (2) the Beijing International Tea Expo.

• The COA adopted a number of market adjustment measures in June. Affected crops included (1) lichee (target volume 1,500 metric tons, subsidized NT$2 per kilo for handling and shipping); (2) bananas (1,100 MT, NT$2 per kilo for processing); and (3) mango (6,000 MT, NT$1 per kilo for processing).

• In response to the June 2 earthquake, on June 18 we re-evaluated the warning values for debris flows in areas where the earthquake was at 5 or greater on the Richter scale, and we lowered warning values by 50 mm in three townships (Lugu and Zhushan in Nantou County and Gukeng in Yunlin County).

• The COA provided special-case subsidies for orchard clearing, fertilizer materials, and organic fertilizer for areas where 30% of more the rice fields were affected by rice blast disease in the first growing season of 2013.

• Other important June events for the COA included: (1) the formal re-opening ceremony for the pleasure boat wharf and direct sales center at Wushi Fishing Harbor; (2) the release into the wild of the beached pygmy killer whale “Ya’gan”; (3) the awarding of prizes to three nature Forestry Bureau education centers (Luodong, Chinan, and Chukou) as part of the 1st National Environmental Education Awards; (4) an event to recognize 2013 outstanding staff persons at irrigation associations.

July

• The COA announced amendments to: (1) some provisions of the Enforcement Rules of the Animal Industry Act; (2) Regulations for Determining and Certificating that Agricultural Land is in Agricultural Use; (3) some provisions of the Regulations for Guidance and Management of Recreational Agriculture; (4) the Regulations Governing the Custody and Application of the Legal Reserves, Public-Interest Funds, and Funds for Inter-Organizational Extension, Mutual Aid and Training Services among Farmers Associations at All Levels.

• Finalized and issued the Directions for the Disposal of National Forest Products as Implemented by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan.

• In the wake of the damage to agriculture caused by Typhoon Soulik, the COA approved assistance to farmers, in the form of low-interest natural-disaster recovery loans and cash payments, as follows: (1) announced that Taichung City and Hsinchu, Yilan, Miaoli, and Nantou counties were approved for disaster-relief cash payments; (2) announced that New Taipei City, Taichung City, and Hsinchu, Yilan, Miaoli, Nantou, and Taoyuan counties to be disaster areas approved for low-interest natural-disaster recovery loans; (3) announced that New Taipei City, Hsinchu City, Tainan City, Chiayi County, and Yunlin County were approved for special-case subsidies.

• The COA announced a ban on 10% Mevinphos EC and nine other agro-pesticides and also announced regulations restricting the use of MIPC+BPMC DP and 38 other agro- pesticides.

• Announced the price of transfer price of rice produced as raw material for processing, thereby completing the concrete action plan for “a production chain for rice flour and new rice-based foods.”

• In coordination with a visit to Kiribati by a patrol vessel from the ROC Coast Guard Administration, COA Minister Chen Bao-ji and CGA Minister Wang Ginn- wang participated in the welcoming ceremony for the vessel and also in Kiribati’s national day.

• Taiwan and New Zealand signed the ANZTEC Agreement.

• The COA signed an investment and strategic cooperation agreement with Germany’s Lohmann Animal Health company.

• Representatives of the COA attended: (1) the 8th Taiwan-South Africa forum; (2) the 8th meeting of the working group on comprehensive monitoring measures and the 1st meeting of the working group on amending the convention, both under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas; (3) the 13th meeting of the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean.

• The COA assisted businesses to organize groups to participate in: (1) the OFA horticultural expo, held in 2013 in Columbus, Ohio (USA), and (2) the Sao Paolo (Brazil) floriculture festival.

• Organized the 2013 Asian Productivity Organization “Asian Food and Agribusiness Conference: Biotechnology and Global Competitiveness.”

• Organized a “Pavilion of Agro-Technology” for Bio Taiwan 2013, an international bio- technology trade fair.

• Other July activities of importance to the COA included: (1) 2013 recognition of farmers for superior methods in the use of fertilizer; (2) a training class for incoming new directors of farmers’ and fishermen’s associations; (3) a press conference to promote Taiwan tilapia and announce that the brand name of Taiwan tilapia tested and certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is “Huoli Shangtai Diao” (“Vital and Ecologic Tilapia”); (4) awarding of a “gold level” accreditation for environmentally-friendly hotels to the Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area hotel; (5) promotion of “gourmet tours” in rural areas in Hualien and Taitung counties.

• In response to a rabies outbreak, the COA prohibited visitors to forest recreation areas or forest parks from bringing their dogs, cats, or other pets into these parks with them.

August

• The COA announced amendments to: (1) some provisions of the Fisheries Act; (2) Article 7 of the Regulations for Application for, and Approval of, the Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance; (3) the Regulations for Establishing and Managing of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees or Panels; (4) Article 7 of the Regulations Governing Adjustments of Business Projects and Range of the Credit Departments of Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations; (5) the Regulations for Election and Recall of Directors of Irrigation Associations and the Regulations for Election and Recall of Meeting Affairs Commissioners of Irrigation Associations; (6) the Operational Directions for the Examination and Approval, by the Competent Authority of Agriculture, of Changes in Land Use.

• Announced a ban on 75% Fosthiazate EC, as well as restrictions on the use of 0.5% Phoxim DP and two other agro-pesticides.

• Announced regulations defining Chloramphenicol as a toxic and hazardous drug, and prohibiting its manufacture, prescription, importation, export, sale or display.

• COA Minister Chen Bao-ji led a group that included Forestry Bureau Director-General Lee Tao-sheng and Taiwan Forestry Research Institute head Huang Yue-hsing to attend the Second APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry.

• The COA assisted businesses to form a group to participate in the Holland Koi Show.

• Sent representatives to participate in the 9th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, held in Pohnpei, Micronesia.

• Hosted the 2013 APEC Seminar on Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships to Reduce Food Losses in the Supply Chain.

• In response to an outbreak of rabies in Taiwan, the Executive Yuan formed a “Central Command Center on the Rabies Situation,” with Vice Premier Mao Chi- kuo as director-in-chief and Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Wen-ta and COA Minister Chen Bao-ji as joint directors. In August alone, the COA organized four conferences of domestic and international experts to address questions about the outbreak and discuss response and prevention measures.

• President Ma Ying-jeou met with officials (members of boards of directors, boards of supervisors, and executive directors) of the national fishermen’s and farmers’ associations.

• The program for “value-added agriculture in Free Economic Pilot Zones” was launched; the COA will focus specifically on the FEPZ attached to the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park.

• The COA completed state purchasing of rice for the first growing season of 2013; a total of 368,328 metric tons was purchased, for total expenditures of NT$8.96 billion.

• Permission was given to the Taichung City, Taiping District Farmers’ Association to establish a new branch credit department.

• The affiliated slaughterhouse of the New Taipei City Poultry Transport Cooperative Society went into operation.

• The COA launched the third stage of production-and-sales adjustment measures for red (Mozambique) tilapia.

• The COA held several noteworthy conferences in August, including: (1) regional conferences to re-assess monitoring, testing, and control measures for the quality of irrigation water; (2) a forum on international trends in the use and management of agro-chemicals for crops that are raised only in small volumes in Taiwan; and (3) an international conference on practical technologies, techniques, and strategies for production of climate-intelligent crops.

• Other August activities of importance at the COA included: (1) an activity to vote (online) for Taiwan’s Top Ten Landscape Sites; (2) the national 4H public service day; and (3) an awards ceremony for Taiwan’s top ten unique local “marquee” or “trademark” rice dishes.

September

• The COA finalized and announced the Regulations on Restricted Fishing Seasons for Elvers.

• Finalized and issued the Administrative Directions for Specific Plant Pathogen Examination Procedures for Export Plant Seeds.

• Announced amendments to: (1) paragraphs 1, 3, and 5 of the Operational Procedures for Smuggled and Confiscated Animals and Their Products; (2) paragraphs 2 and 4, and Supplement 2 of Paragraph 3, of the Directions for Punishment Measures on Violations of the Food Administration Act; (3) Paragraph 3 and Supplement 1-23 (governing fertilized chicken eggs imported from the US for purposes of research or manufacture of vaccines) of the Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Animals and Animal Products.

• The COA attended meetings of two major fisheries organizations: (1) we convened the 5th preparatory conference of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission, and (2) we participated in the plenary meeting of the 2013 meeting of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics of the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.

• The COA also ensured Taiwan’s presence at several major trade fairs: (1) we participated in the 2013 Cross- Strait (Fuzhou) Fisheries Week/Fuzhou International Fisheries Expo; and (2) we assisted businesses to form groups to participate in: (a) 2013 Seafood Expo Asia (in Hong Kong); (b) the China-ASEAN Expo; and (c) Food and Hotel Malaysia 2013.

• In terms of participation in domestic trade fairs, the COA: (1) set up a “Pavilion of Agriculture” for participation in the 2013 Taipei International Invention Show and Technomart; (2) held the 5 Taiwan Aquarium Expo; and (3) held the 2013 Taiwan Rice Expo.

• Typhoon Usagi caused severe damage to crops in some areas; the COA declared Pingtung County to be a disaster area approved for low-interest natural-disaster recovery loans.

• The Vice President met model committee chairmen, commissioners, and directors of irrigation associations from around the nation.

• The poultry wholesale market and slaughterhouse of the Ziguan District Farmers’ Association of Kaohsiung City formally opened.

• There was a contract-signing ceremony for transfer of operational control of “Hinoki Village.”

• As part of our continuing efforts to improve pet health and management, in September the COA: (1) convened the 2nd National Animal Immunization Conference of 2013; (2) conducted a project to strengthen pet registration; (3) held and international conference on animal vaccine testing, certification, and registration systems; and (4) launched a public information campaign to encourage pet owners to immunize their dogs and cats against rabies.

• Held an activity entitled “Match-Making Meeting: Three Years, NT$3 Million Incentives for Working on Fishing Boats.”

• Ecologically oriented events included: (1) 2013 Jacana Bird Ecology Season, and (2) a press conference to publicize the opening of the 2013 Ecological Film Festival, together with the premiere of the documentary Bees and Wasps of Taiwan.

• The COA convened a conference on public-private partnerships for modernized sustainable horticulture.

• Held 2013 “Weed Eradication Day” targeted at Mikania micrantha (nicknamed “the mile-a-minute weed”).

• The COA also: (1) held the 2013 Fishermen’s Festival; (2) held an awards presentation and exposition of the 3rd “College Students Returning to Rural Communities Competition”; and (3) held an ceremony for presentation of the 7th Golden Agriculture Awards.

October

• The COA finalized and announced Determination Criteria for Fines for Violations of Paragraphs 1 and 7 of Article 34 of the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease.

• Announced amendments to: (1) the Regulations for Examining Applications for Building Farming Facilities on Agricultural Land; (2) the Regulations of Agro-Pesticide Field Testing; (3) articles 3 and 13 of the Regulations for Required Vaccines and Their Management for Elimination of Classical Swine Fever and Foot-and-Mouth Disease; (4) some provisions of the Enforcement Rules of the Wildlife Conservation Act; (5) some provisions of the Directions for Consideration of Applications for Projects to Change Non-Urban Land into Building Agriculture Product Factories and Facilities.

• Announced the amending of “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Plants or Plant Products into the. Republic of China,” Part B, paragraphs 1 and 8, of the Quarantine Requirements for Enterable Plants or Plant Products under Precautionary Requirements.

• Announced, on the basis of Article 28, Paragraph 1, Sub-paragraph 1 of the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease, the prohibition of delivering cloven-hoofed animals from Kinmen County of Fujian Province to the main island of Taiwan and its offshore islands, for the period from October 15, 2013 through October 14, 2014.

• The COA joined in international fisheries governance by participating in: (1) the 8th meeting of the Compliance Committee and Extended Commission of the 20th meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna; (2) the annual meeting of the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) and the joint conference with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (ICFA-FAO); (3) the 112th meeting of the OECD’s Committee for Fisheries.

• In cooperation with APAARI and AVRDC the COA organized the Asia-Pacific Symposium on Molecular Breeding.

• The COA assisted businesses to form groups to attend: (1) “IFEX Japan” international flower expo, and (2) the New Zealand International Orchid Show.

• Bilateral developments included: (1) The COA hosted the Taiwan-Japan 2013 Bilateral Meeting on Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Scientific and Research Cooperation and Symposium. (2) COA Minister Chen Bao-ji led a group to Israel, where he attended a trade fair on water technologies, attended the 4th Taiwan-Israel agricultural cooperation meeting, and visited important agro-technology firms, venture capital firms, and research institutions. (3) The COA cooperated with mainland China’s forestry administration to hold the first “Cross-Strait Forestry Forum.” (4) Australia announced it would admit imports of fresh lichee from Taiwan that was treated using cold storage methods.

• The COA organized an awards ceremony and exhibition of entries in an online picture-story competition on the theme “Reasons to Visit Rural Communities.”

• Held the 4H agricultural competition.

• The COA organized three major domestic conferences: (1) “Conference on Trends in Development of Agricultural Genome Technology, 2013” (2) a cross-ministerial conference on successful case studies of transfer of agricultural biotechnology to commercial businesses; and (3) “Conference on Community Forestry: Looking Back over the Past Ten Years, Looking Ahead to the Future.”

• Also organized three major international conferences: (1) the 2013 Asian Butterfly Biodiversity Conference; (2) the 2013 International Symposium on Forest Health Management; and (3) an international workshop for minor-use and minor-species veterinary medicine management.

• The COA organized two pavilions for the Taipei International Travel Fair, one whose theme was “leisure farms in Taiwan” and the other with a theme of “agricultural specialty products.”

• Provided assistance to the Nantou County government to hold the 2013 Central Taiwan Agriculture Expo.

November

• The COA worked with the Ministry of the Interior to amend the Regulations for the Standards for Determination of Farmers Engaged in Agricultural Work to Apply to Join in the Farmers' Health Insurance Programs, and Examination of Their Qualifications.

• Announced amendments to: (1) articles 16 and 18 of the Regulation Governing Disinfection and Management for Rendering Plants and Their Material Transport Vehicles; (2) supplements 1 and 2 of Article 3 of the Regulations for the Physicochemical and Toxicological Testing of Agro-Pesticides; and (3) the Directions for Transshipment of Longliner Catch and for Carrier Vessels Authorized to Operate in the Indian, Pacific, or Atlantic Oceans.

• Finalized, and sent out written notification of, the Regulations for Ownership and Utilization of Scientific and Technological Research and Development Results by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan.

• Worked with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to announce Standards for Veterinary Drugs Residue Limits in Food covering 19 pharmaceuticals and 135 items.

• Taiwan and Singapore signed the ASTEP Agreement.

• The COA convened the Taiwan-US bilateral conference on fisheries cooperation.

• Japan dispatched inspectors to Taiwan to jointly conduct, with Taiwan inspectors, quarantine treatment of pomelo, ponkan, and grapes to be exported from Taiwan to Japan.

• Organized the APO “Workshop on Development of Model Projects for Green Productivity.”

• Participated in the 23rd annual meeting of the International Commission on Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.

• The COA arranged for participation in four international trade fairs: (1) We organized a group to go to Korea and hold a “Premium Taiwan Tilapia” press conference and also participated in the international seafood expo there. (2) We also assisted businesses to form groups to participate in (a) the 2013 China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, (b) the 17th China International Pet Show in Guangzhou, and (c) the International Floriculture and Horticulture Trade Fair in Holland.

• Five COA construction projects won gold medals at the 13th Public Infrastructure Awards.

• The COA convened the 19th Working Group Meeting for HPAI Prevention and Control in order to amend the regulations for sentinel poultry testing.

• Formally listed “down” as a product eligible for CAS premium agro-product testing and certification.

• Investigated and conducted tests at five processing factories producing organic oil and fat.

• Held a conference on laws and regulations governing the Buddhist practice of rescuing animals and releasing them into the wild, as well as a workshop on evaluation of, and setting norms for, this practice.

• Held a graduation ceremony for a training course for fisheries observers from Pacific nations with whom Taiwan has diplomatic ties.

• Held a joint land-air exercise for responding to, and conducting rescue operations during, forest fires.

• The COA promoted several rural-oriented events, including: (1) a release activity for the book My Home is There in the Mountains; (2) the 2013 “Sea of Flowers in Xinshe” activity; and (3) the “2013 Domestic Fresh Milk Carnival.”

• Held a seminar to recognize outstanding export-oriented orchid plantations and to discuss recent developments in orchid research.

• The COA and BirdLife International jointly sponsored a conference on reducing incidental catches of seabirds during fishing operations.

December

• The COA worked with the Ministry of the Health and Welfare to amend the Regulations for Standards for Determination of Persons Who Engage in Agricultural Work and Apply to Join in National Health Insurance Programs, and Examination of Their Qualifications.

• Announced amendments to: (1) Article 16 of the Regulations for Loans for Expanding Family Farms to Support Farmers Buying Land; (2) articles 7, 9, and 9-1 of the Regulations for Application of Agro-Pesticides and Inspection of Agro-Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Products; (3) the Regulations for Importation of Dogs or Cats into Taiwan (at the same time it was announced that these would take effect on June 1, 2014); (4) Operational Directions for Re-Import of Animal Products; (5) paragraphs 9 and 22 for the Administrative Directions for Authorizing Quarantine Fumigation and Heat Treatment of Wooden Packing Materials; (6) Article 40 of the Enforcement Rules of the Farmers’ Association Act; (7) articles 14 and 15 of the Regulations for the Disposal of National Forest Products.

• Finalized and promulgated the Habitat Type and Area of the Feitsui Reservoir Snake-Eating Turtle Major Wildlife Habitat.

• Finalized and announced the Directions for Fishing Vessels and Carrier Vessels Authorized to Operate for Squid and Saury in the North Pacific Ocean.

• Announced that applications for inspection and quarantine of specified plants for export must be accompanied by the form detailing information on the seedling nursery from which the plants for export originated.

• Worked with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to announce Standards for Veterinary Drugs Residue Limits in Food covering six pharmaceuticals and 41 items.

• Developments in multilateral relationships included: (1) COA Deputy Minister Chen Wen-te, representing the Minister, attended the 9th Ministerial Conference of the WTO; and (2) the COA participated in the 10th annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

• Important developments in bilateral relationships included: (1) The Taiwan-New Zealand ANZTEC Agreement came into effect; (2) the COA participated in the 20th session of the AIT-TECRO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Technical Consultations; (3) the COA convened (a) the 2nd Taiwan-Japan exchange of views between non-governmental fishermen’s representatives, as well as (b) the 2nd Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Committee; (4) the COA hosted the 15th Taiwan-Netherlands conference on agricultural cooperation; and (5) Australia agreed to the import of cut lilies from Taiwan.

• The COA officially launched the system of pricing eggs according to grade, and reported on the situation of promoting supplying of eggs in paper boxes.

• The new agricultural proposals and action plan for the “Golden Corridor” project were sent to the Executive Yuan for approval.

• The National Rabies Command Center ceased operations, and follow-up policy-making and implementation were returned to their normal channels.

• The COA strengthened the notification mechanism for major problems or incidents occurring at farmers’ and fishermen’s associations with credit departments.

• Assisted in the clean-up of pollution from electro-plating factories that affected irrigation channels and farmland in the Changhua area, and also notified the Changhua Prosecutors’ Office.

• A publication about the fishing industry, Dinner with People of the Sea: Stories of 15 People Who Make Their Living from the Sea, Fishing, and Cuisine, was named a “Grade 1” publication.

• The COA organized a group to participate in (1) the 2013 Flower Culture Expo and (2) the 12th IPM China.

• Participated in the exhibition of successful applications of the National Geographic Information System, with the COA responsible for the “Natural Resources and Ecological Database” working group.

• Convened the 2nd national meeting of agricultural administration chiefs of 2013.

• December awards and promotional activities organized by the COA included: (1) the 2013 presentation of CAS certification to newly qualified firms, as well as prizes for outstanding CAS-certified firms; (2) an exhibition of successes in the traceability system for production and sale of agro-products; (3) the awards ceremony and recognition of the successes of the nation’s Top Ten agricultural production-and-marketing groups (APMGs) for 2013; (4) the awards ceremony for outstanding agricultural infrastructure or construction projects for 2012-1013; (5) the 2014 exhibition of the Top 100 Products of Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations; and (6) an event to publicize and recognize outstanding pesticide sellers.