January

• The COA implemented the “Plan for Direct Payments on Farmland” (also known as the “Environmental Green Payment on Land Area Project”).
• Announced that “from January 16 of 2018 through March 31 of 2018, ducks can only be transported to slaughterhouses if they test negative for avian influenza at a testing body authorized by the central animal inspection and quarantine authorities, and have a test report attached; ducks should be detected AI negative and should be transported to slaughterhouses with inspection reports.”
• Announced the amendment of the “Operation Directions of Contracted Short-term Economic Forests.”
• Announced the amendment of Article 14 of the “Agricultural Natural Disasters Relief Regulations.”
• The President promulgated amendments to the “Act of Irrigation Association Organization.”
• The COA announced the “Administrative Principle of Solar Power Facilities Installed by Irrigation Associations on Irrigation Ponds,” which took effect on January 8.
• Announced that “Fubon Regional Harvesting Insurance” for rice is an agricultural insurance product subsidized by the COA.
• Announced Switzerland as free of foot-and-mouth disease, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, and African swine fever, and Spain, Lithuania, Hungary, and Japan as free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
• Announced amendments to the “Regulations for Fishing Vessels Conducting Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery,” the “Regulations for Tuna Longline Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the Indian Ocean for Fishing Operation,” the “Regulations for Fishing Vessels Conducting Squid Jigging Fishery,” the “Regulations for Fishing Vessels Conducting Saury Fishery in North Pacific Ocean,” the “Regulations for Tuna Longline or Purse Seine Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the Pacific Ocean for Fishing Operation,” and the “Regulations for Tuna Longline Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the Atlantic Ocean for Fishing Operation.”
• Announced the deletion of recognition of Japan as a country free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

February

• Amended the “Directions for Rice Direct Payment.”
• Sent staff to the Republic of Seychelles to participate in the 4^th meeting of the “Technical Committee on Allocation Criteria” and the 1st meeting of the “Technical Committee on Performance Review” of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
• Worked with the Taiwan Railways Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to create the “Satoyama Animal Train,” which started its first journey at the Nankang railway station.
• Sent staff to Papua New Guinea to participate in the 13th meeting of the APEC “Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade” (EGILAT) and the COA also participated in the 14th meeting of EGILAT in August.

March

• The COA announced the amendment of the “Regulations on Restricted Fishing Seasons for Elvers.”
• Announced the amendment of Appendix 1 of Article 3 of the “Agriculture Industrial Waste Reuse Management Regulations.”
• Hungary was allowed to export pork and poultry meat and their products into Taiwan, based on the “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Meat Derived from Cloven-hoofed Animals,” “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Poultry Meat,” and relevant food inspection regulations, following slaughtering at a designated facility approved by Taiwan.
• Pork and pork products from Italy were allowed to be imported into Taiwan based on the “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Meat Derived from Cloven-hoofed Animals” and relevant food inspection regulations.
• The COA announced amendments to the “Regulations about Standards for Determinations of the Farmers Engaged in Agricultural Work and Applies to Join in Farmers’ Health Insurance Programs and Examinations of Their Qualifications,” to make it possible for beekeepers and actual cultivators of the land to enroll in farmers’ health insurance.
• Announced amendments to Article 10-1 of the “Regulations Governing the Business Guidance, Fund Accommodations and Redeposit of Surplus Funds for the Credit Department of Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations”; Articles 4, 5, and 6 of the “Standards Governing Credit Extension and Limitation to the Associated Members and/or Non-members for the Credit Department of Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations”; and Articles 6 and 9 of the “Implementation Regulations of Internal Control and Audit Systems for the Credit Department of Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations.”
• Announced the abolition of the “Suspension of the Importation of Live Tilapia from List of Countries (Zones) with Reported Case(s) of Tilapia Lake Virus.”
• Announced the amendment of Article 23 of the “Regulations for Examining the Application of Structuring Farming Facilities on Agricultural Land,” to add “facilities for the valorization of poultry and livestock feces and urine” under the category of “livestock facilities.”
• Announced an adjustment to the method for calculating the interest rate of low-interest loans for agricultural natural disasters (the adjustment went into effect as of April 16, 2018).
• Announced amendments to partial articles of the “Regulations Governing Policy-Oriented Special Agricultural Loan” and relevant loan directions, which took effect on April 16.
• Sent staff to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to participate in the “19^th General Session of AARDO Conference” of the African-Asian Rural Development Organization, and successfully won a position in the AARDO Executive Committee for the 2018-2020 term.
• Participated in “FoodEx Japan 2018,” and tried to win the inclusion of Taiwan agriproducts in the food purchases for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Sent staff to Canberra, Australia, to participate in the “5th Strategy and Fisheries Management Working Group Meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna.”
• Convened the “1st Taiwan-Poland Consultation Meeting on Agricultural Cooperation.”
• Convened the “2018 France-Taiwan Videoconference on Policy and Industry Exchanges for Agricultural Biogas Utilization.”
• Held the “2018 Taiwan International Orchid Show,” with the theme of “Sparkle Taiwan! In Orchid We Love.”
• Sent staff to Beijing to participate in the “Fourth Meetings of the Council and Board of Directors of the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation.”

April

• The COA announced that the “Aquaculture Insurance with Precipitation Parameter” offered by Taiwan Fire and Marine Insurance (TFMI) for the Pingtung Area and the “Kaohsiung Area Aquaculture Insurance with Precipitation Parameter” offered by TFMI would be aquaculture natural disaster insurance products for which the COA will provide subsidies in 2018 to aquaculture operators who take out such insurance.
• Announced Estonia as free of highly pathogenic avian influenza and rabies, and Tennessee State of the United States of America, Poland, and Belgium as free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
• Announced amendments to the “Regulations for the On-site Inspection of Birds for Exportation,” changing from compulsory registration and testing to optional registration and testing.
• Announced amendments to Article 2-1 and Supplementary 1 of Article 3 of the “Regulations about Standards for Determinations and Examinations of Qualifications to Persons Who Engage in Agricultural Work and Apply to Join in National Health Insurance Programs.”
• Announced the deletion of recognition of Hungary as a country free of African swine fever.
• New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries published the “Importation Health Standards” (IHS) for Oncidium cut flowers from Taiwan, opening the market to the export of Oncidium cut flowers from Taiwan to New Zealand.
• The COA sent staff to Pretoria, South Africa, to participate in the “3^rd Meeting of the Taiwan-South Africa Joint Working Committee for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.”
• Sent staff to Tokyo to participate in the “Meeting of the Small Scientific Committee on Pacific Saury and the 3rd Scientific Committee Meeting” of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission.
• Sent staff to Washington, DC in the US to participate in the “2018 Bilateral Meeting Between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US and American Institute in Taiwan on Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Programs.”
• Worked with the Taoyuan City Government to hold the “2018 Taoyuan Agriculture Expo.”
• Held the opening press conference for a series of activities leading up to the “6th National Agriculture Congress.”
• Held the awards ceremony for the “1st Golden Village Competition.”

May

• The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognized that Kinmen County was a zone that was “foot-and-mouth disease-free where vaccination is practiced.”
• The COA announced the amendment of the “Regulations for Guidance and Management of Recreational Agriculture.”
• Announced that “Insurance for Aquaculture Using Precipitation as the Parameter in the Inland Areas of Pingtung County” offered by Taiwan Fire and Marine Insurance would be an aquaculture natural disaster insurance product for which the COA will provide subsidies to aquaculture operators who take out such insurance.
• Announced that malachite green is prohibited from manufacture, import, export, sale or display as a veterinary drug; there is an exemption from this provision when malachite green is used to treat diseases of aquarium fish.
• The President promulgated the “Organic Agriculture Promotion Act,” which will come into effect after one year.
• The President promulgated the amendment of Article 4 of the “Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act,” to expand the types of plants to which this Act applies.
• The COA convened the “3rd Taiwan-US Rice Technical Meeting.”
• Convened the “7th Taiwan-Philippines Agricultural Cooperation Meeting.”
• Sent staff to La Jolla, California in the US to attend the “9th Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee” of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.
• Sent staff to Madeira Island in Portugal to attend the “5th Meeting of the Working Group on Dialogue between Fisheries Scientists and Managers” and the “Meeting of the Working Group on Convention Amendment” of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
• The Soil and Water Conservation Bureau held the “2018 Disaster Prevention and Response Exercise and Flag and Awards Ceremony for debris flow disaster prevention volunteer specialists” with the Taichung City government.
• The COA organized an online food purchasing activity, entitled “Taiwan new agriculture and food festival,” in order to drive the development of e-commerce for Taiwan agriproducts.

June

• The COA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Taoyuan City government to cooperate in developing the Taoyuan Agricultural Logistics Park.
• Launched the program of measures to stabilize grain prices in the first crop season of 2018.
• Announced that “Typhoon and Flood Insurance for Agriculture Facilities” offered by Fubon Insurance would be an agricultural industry insurance product for which the COA will subsidize farmers who take out such insurance.
• Belgium was allowed to export pork and its products into Taiwan, based on the “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Meat Derived from Cloven-hoofed Animals” and relevant food inspection regulations.
• The COA announced the “Temporary Organization Regulations of Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan,” the “Administrative Regulations of Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan,” and the “Personnel Establishment Table of Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan,” which all took effect on July 1.
• The President promulgated amendments to partial provisions of the “Farmer Health Insurance Act” and the “Provisional Act Governing the Welfare Allowance for Elderly Farmers,” of which the partial provisions of the “Farmer Health Insurance Act” went into effect on November 1.
• The President promulgated amendments to Articles 3, 6-1, 26, 29, and 31 of the “Animal Protection Act.”
• The President promulgated amendments to the “Plant Protection and Quarantine Act.” Aside from amendments to Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 17, and Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Article 24 which are related to violations of Paragraph 4 of Article 17, which will go into effect after one year, the other amended provisions took effect on the date of promulgation.
• The COA announced the “Guideline for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.”
• Amended Article 11 of the “Operation Directions on Public Rice Sales for Schools.”
• Signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation between Republic of China and Republic of Kiribati.”
• The COA hosted the “2018 APEC High-level Policy Dialogue on Enhancing Public and Private Partnership to Reduce Food Losses and Waste for a Sustainable APEC Food System” and organized the “Reducing Food Losses and Waste Innovation Fair.”
• Convened the “3rd Consultation Meeting on Agricultural Cooperation between the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia and the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei,” where the two sides signed outlines on two cooperation plans, one for the “Modern Agriculture Demo Farm in Karawang” and one for “strengthening agribusiness incubation and development in the Bandung area.”
• Held the “1st Taiwan-UK Agriculture Dialogue Video Meeting.”
• Sent staff to Tokyo to participate in the “4th Annual Session of the Commission of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission” and meetings of related subcommittees.
• Formed a disaster emergency response team for the torrential rains of June 13, and announced areas eligible for natural disaster cash relief and low-interest loans.
• Organized the “Taiwan Pavilion,” with the theme of “Great Taste Taiwan,” at the “2018 Taipei International Food Show” (also known as “Food Taipei”).
• Held the “2018 Summer Sale Expo for Premium Agri-food Products of Assured Safety.”

July

• There was a complete cessation of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination for cloven-hoofed animals on Taiwan proper, in the Penghu area, and in the Matsu area, starting July 1.
• The COA announced amendments to the “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Live Crustaceans and Molluscs,” which took effect on September 1, 2018.
• Announced amendments to Articles 33 and 33-3 of the “Enforcement Rules of the Wildlife Conservation Act,” and set December 31, 2019 as the final day for which trading of existing commercial stocks of ivory can take place, thereby terminating the existing domestic trade in ivory and processed ivory products.
• Announced regulations governing the ban on dicofol and 10 other pesticides and restricted application of acephate 25% and 5 other pesticides.
• Announced the deletion of recognition of Belgium as a country free of Newcastle disease.
• Established the “Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office” under the Forestry Bureau of the COA.
• Facilitated international experience exchange between Taiwanese and German villages by sending winners of the Golden Village Competition to Germany. In addition, four letters of intent to cooperate with German villages were signed during the period.
• Set up the “Agricultural Technology Pavilion” at the “2018 BioTaiwan” biotechnology exhibition.
• Set up the “Taiwan Agricultural Technology Pavilion” and the “Taiwan Seedling Hall” at the “2018 Asia Agri-Tech Expo and Forum.”
• Announced the suspension of the importation of deer, cervid semen, and cervid embryos from listed countries (zones) with reported case(s) of chronic wasting disease.

August

• The COA began to implement a policy of unifying (i) inspection and quarantine measures for pets entering the country with (ii) pet registration.
• In response to the confirmation of an outbreak of African swine fever in mainland China on August 3, Taiwan immediately launched a variety of disease-prevention and preparedness measures.
• The United Kingdom was allowed to export pork and its products into Taiwan based on the “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Meat Derived from Cloven-hoofed Animals” and relevant food inspection regulations.
• The COA announced that “Prothiophos” was banned for use as a pesticide, with bans on its manufacturing, processing, packaging, import, and export going into effect on September 1, 2018 and bans on its sale and use going into effect on February 1, 2019.
• Announced amendments to Paragraphs 2 and 4 of the “Directions for Subsidies of Trial Poultry Industry Insurance.”
• Announced the amendment of Article 3 of the “Regulations Governing the Custody and Application of Legal Reserves, Funds for Public Interests, and Funds for Inter-organizational Extension, Mutual Aid, and Training Services among Farmers’ Associations at All Levels.”
• Announced amendments to Appendices 1 and 2 of Article 2 of the “Regulations for Governing Evaluation of Farmers Association’s Performance.”
• Announced France and the United Kingdom as free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
• Announced the amendment of Article 41 of the “Organization Regulations of Irrigation Association.”
• Announced the amendment of “Plant Protection Products that are Exempted from Registration.”
• Announced amendments to the “Regulations about Standards for Determinations of the Farmers Engaged in Agricultural Work and Applies to Join in Farmers’ Health Insurance Programs and Examinations of their Qualifications,” to ensure the right of Aboriginal people to enroll in farmers’ health insurance and to ensure that persons with farmers’ health insurance whose land has been publicly declared to be a “soil and groundwater pollution control site” can remain enrolled in farmers’ health insurance.
• Sent staff to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to participate in the activities of “2018 APEC Food Security Week.”
• Sent staff to Busan, Korea, to participate in the “3rd E-Reporting and E-Monitoring Working Group Meeting” and the “14th Regular Session of the Scientific Committee” of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
• Sent staff to Canberra, Australia to participate in the “15th Taiwan-Australia Agricultural Working Group Meeting.”
• Organized, in cooperation with the Asian Productivity Organization, the “3rd International Conference on Biopesticides and Biofertilizers,” at which consensus was reached that Taiwan should take responsibility for setting up an international contact platform for biofertilizers and biopesticides.
• Set up the “Taiwan Agro-Pavilion” at the “2018 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition.”
• Established a disaster emergency response team for tropical low pressure flooding on August 23, and announced areas eligible for natural disaster cash relief and low-interest loans.

September

• All French pork-producing establishments were systematically approved by Taiwan. Their pork and pork products were allowed to be imported into Taiwan based on the “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Meat Derived from Cloven-hoofed Animals” and relevant food inspection regulations.
• The COA announced the methods and scope of application of one new pesticide, “cymoxanil+zoxamide,” and additional methods and scope of application of 20 other pesticides (including “fluopyram+trifloxystrobin”), and abolished the methods and scope of application of four emergency-use pesticides for pear blossom blast.
• Announced the methods and scope of application of two new pesticides, “cyantraniliprole” and “cyenopyrafen,” and additional methods and scope of application of nine other pesticides (including “amisulbrom”).
• Announced the deletion of recognition of Belgium as a country free of African swine fever.
• Announced amendments to partial provisions of the “Commodities Subject to Import Plant Quarantine,” which took effect on September 28.
• Sent staff to Fukuoka, Japan, to attend the “14th Regular Session of the Northern Committee” (NC14) and the “Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) Technical Meeting” for the Pacific bluefin tuna, both under the auspices of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
• Convened the “25th Session of the AIT-TECRO Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Agricultural Standards Working Group Consultations.”
• Sent staff to the Marshall Islands to attend the “14th Regular Session of the Technical and Compliance Committee” (TCC14) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and meetings of relevant working groups.
• Held a flag presentation ceremony to recognize the founding of “mechanized agricultural cultivation service associations” in each municipality, city, and county.
• Convened the “6th National Agriculture Congress.”
• Held a press conference for the awards ceremony for the “Asia-Pacific Competition Winners” of the “2018 International Chocolate Awards.”
• Formed a disaster emergency response team for Typhoon Mangkhut and announced areas eligible for natural disaster cash relief and lowinterest loans.
• Held activities to mark the reopening of the Neidong Forest Recreation Area.
• Held a ceremony to mark the resumption of service of the Bong Bong Train in the Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area.
• Signed the “Social and Cultural Survey of Rural Taiwan Cooperation Agreement” with the Academia Sinica.
• Set up the “Sustainability” pavilion at the “2018 Taiwan Innotech Expo.”
• Organized the “2018 Central Taiwan Agriculture Expo.”
• Announced that “Aquaculture Insurance with Temperature Parameter” offered by Fubon Insurance would be an aquaculture natural disaster insurance product for which the COA will subsidize aquaculture operators who take out such insurance.
• Announced that “Oriental Pear Crop Insurance,” “Oriental Pear Crop Insurance (Linked to Government Disaster Relief)” and “Oriental Pear Crop Insurance—Supplementary Insurance for Losses of Top-Grafted Pears from Cold” would be agricultural insurance products for which the COA will subsidize farmers who take out such insurance.
• Held the “8th Awards Ceremony and Wrap-up Presentation for the Rural-up Program.”
• Announced that “Insurance for Wax Apples Using the Wind Speed and Precipitation of Typhoon as the Parameter in the Areas of Pingtung County, Taiwan Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.,” “Insurance for Wax Apples Using the Wind Speed and Precipitation of Typhoon as the Parameter and Additional Insurance Using Temperature as the Parameter in the Areas of Pingtung County, Taiwan Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.,” and “Insurance for Papayas Using the Wind Speed and Precipitation as the Parameter, South China Insurance Co., Ltd.” were crop insurance products subsidized by the COA.
• Announced the deletion of recognition of California State of the United States of America as a state free of Newcastle disease.

October

• The COA announced Japan and Czech Republic as free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
• Announced the “Regulations for Trial Operation of Farmers’ Occupational Injury Insurance,” which took effect November 1.
• Announced the “Examination Regulations for Farmer Insurance Insured Person’s Injury Due to Agricultural Executive Duties,” which took effect on November 1.
• Announced the “Fine Determination Criteria for Violation of Paragraph 2 of Article 34 of Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease.”
• Announced amendments to Appendix 1 of Article 2 and Appendices 4 and 5 of Article 3 of the “Regulations of Agro-pesticides Specification.”
• Announced the amendment of Supplementary 2 of Article 3 of the “Regulations for the Physiochemical and Toxicological Test of Agropesticides.”
• Announced the “Regulations for Mandatory Purchase of Factories and Its Related Research & Production Facilities in Agricultural Technology Parks,” which took effect on October 15.
• Sent staff to Noumea, New Caledonia, to attend the “13th Meeting of the Compliance Committee” and the “Extended Commission of the 25th Meeting of the Commission” of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT).
• Signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Taiwan-Japan Exchange and Cooperation for Agricultural and Fishery Products” with the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association of Toyama Prefecture, with Taiwan bananas being the first product to be promoted in Japan.
• Sent staff to Budapest, Hungary, to attend the “3rd Taiwan-Hungary Conference on Agricultural Cooperation.”
• Held a press conference on marketing frozen atemoya at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan.
• Held the “Monthly Food Day Press Conference.”
• Held the “2018 Traceable Agricultural Product Experts Awards Ceremony and Fair Activity.”
• Held the national Wagui competition and awards ceremony.
• Held the “2018 International Conference on Avian Influenza and Disease Control.”
• Held the “2018 Forum on Strategies to Streamline the Hog Industry.”
• The Alishan Forest Railway received one of the first ever “Overseas Railway Awards” as part of the “Japan Railway Awards” presented by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.
• The COA announced that “Mango Crop Insurance (Linked to Government Disaster Relief)” and “Mango Crop Insurance (Regional Harvesting Type)” offered by Cathay Century Insurance would be agricultural insurance products for which the COA will subsidize farmers who take out such insurance.
• Announced that “Milkfish Aquaculture Insurance with Temperature Parameter” offered by Fubon Insurance would be an aquaculture natural disaster insurance product for which the COA will provide subsidies to aquaculture operators who take out such insurance.
• Announced amendments to the “Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Bovine Serum from the United States,” which took effect on January 1, 2019.

November

• The COA began to offer “Farmers’ Occupational Injury Insurance.”
• Announced the “Operation Directions of Subsidy Provision for Contractual Plantation Transfer to Forage Crop.”
• Announced the “Regulations for Processing Disputes Concerning Farmers’ Health Insurance and Occupational Injury Insurance,” which took effect November 1.
• Announced the “Organization Regulations of Farmers’ Health Insurance and Occupational Injury Insurance Supervisory Commission,” which took effect November 1.
• Announced the suspension of imports of live pigs, pork, and pork products from Japan, to prevent the transmission of classical swine fever into Taiwan.
• Sent staff to Dubrovnik, Croatia, to attend the “Meeting of the Compliance Committee” and “21st Special Meeting of the Commission” of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
• Convened the “5th Taiwan-Israel Agricultural Working Group Meeting.” Convened the “5th ANZTEC Sanitary and Phytosanitary Joint Management Committee Meeting.”
• Hosted the “2018 International Wetland Convention,” at which Peter Corthwaite, CEO of the Hong Kong branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), announced that the WWF would be opening a branch in Taiwan within five years.
• Provided subsidies to the Taichung City government to hold the “2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition.”
• Held a ceremony to mark the opening of the “Research Center for Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza.”
• Set up the “Agrotourism Pavilion” and the “Agro-gifts and Souvenirs Pavilion” at the “2018 Taipei International Travel Fair.”
• Set up the “Rural Health Pavilion” at the “2018 Healthcare+Expo Taiwan.” Held the “2018 Winter Sale Expo for Premium Agri-food Products of Assured Safety.”
• Sent staff to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend the “14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity” (CBD-COP-14).

December

• The COA established the “African Swine Fever Central Emergency Response Center,” and convened its first interministerial meeting.
• The President promulgated the amendment of Article 45-1 of the “Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease.”
• The COA announced amendments to the “Fine Determination Criteria for Violation of Paragraph 2 of Article 34 of the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease.”
• Announced amendments to Paragraphs 2 and 3 and Supplementary 2 of Paragraph 4 of the “Directions for the Pilot Program for Actual Cultivators who Engage in Agricultural Works under a Verbal Agreement to Participate in Environmental Green Payment on Land Area Project.”
• The President promulgated amendments to Articles 4 and 23, and the addition of Article 4-1, of the “Animal Protection Act.”
• The COA announced amendments to Articles 3 and 4 and Appendix 1 of Article 5 of the “Regulations Governing the Capital Adequacy Ratio of the Credit Departments of Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations.”
• Announced amendments to the “Regulations about Standards for Determinations and Examinations of Persons Who Engage in Agricultural Work and Apply to Join in National Health Insurance Programs” to ensure the right of Aboriginal people to enroll in health insurance and to ensure that Type 3 insured persons whose land has been publicly declared to be a “soil and groundwater pollution control site” can remain enrolled in health insurance.
• Sent staff to Katowice, Poland, to attend the “24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” (COP24).
• Sent staff to Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, to attend the “15th Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.”
• In cooperation with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), convened the 2nd meeting of the steering committee for cooperative projects.
• Sent staff to Da Lat, Vietnam, to attend the “12th Taiwan-Vietnam Working Group Meeting on Cooperation in Agriculture and Fisheries,” and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on mutual recognition of plant variety rights.
• In cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), held the APPARI “2nd Executive Committee Meeting” (2/2018) and “15th General Assembly.”
• Held the “2018 National Inspection and Quarantine Exercise for African Swine Fever.”
• National Forest Recreation Areas formally began using the four major mobile payment systems (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and Taiwan Pay).
• The Alishan Forest Railway signed a Letter of Intent with the Čierny Hron Forestry Railway in Slovakia to become sister railways.
• In cooperation with the National Taiwan University Experimental Forest, the COA set up the “Taiwan Wood Pavilion” at the “2018 30^th Taipei Building Show,” again winning a “top exhibitor award.”
• The “Satoumi Action Plan for the Chenglong Wetlands,” promoted by the COA’s Forestry Bureau, won a National Sustainability Award.
• The COA announced that “Cathay Century Insurance for Mangos (Pingtung Regional Harvesting Insurance)” would be an agricultural insurance product subsidized by the COA in 2018/2019.
• Announced amendments to the “Regulations Governing Anti-money Laundering of Agricultural Financial Institutions,” the “Regulations Governing Agricultural Financial Institutions’ Reporting on the Property, Property Interests and Location of the Property and Property Interests of the Designated Individual, Legal Person or Entity,” and the “Regulations Governing Internal Audit and Internal Control System of Anti-money Laundering and Countering Terrorism of Agricultural Financial Institutions.”
• Sent out a letter on December 12 informing all municipal, city, and county governments that they should inform the credit departments of farmers’ and fishermen’s association within their jurisdiction that the amendments to the “Directions for Confirming Customer Identity in Domestic Remittance Operations and Deposit Without Passbook of Financial Institutions” announced by the Financial Supervisory Commission per Order Jin-Kuan-Yin 10702741850 would go into effect as of January 1, 2019.