1.Ministry of Agriculture Refutes Claims on Allowing Construction Waste to Refill Farmland

On January 20^th, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) rejected media claims that the government has allowed surplus construction soil to be used to refill farmland, saying the reports are inaccurate. The ministry said Article 2-1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Agricultural Development Act has not been amended and that construction surplus soil remains strictly prohibited from being used on farmland. Under current regulations, farmland may only be filled with soil suitable for agricultural production, and the use of sand, gravel, concrete, construction debris, or other harmful materials is banned nationwide. Citing expert concerns over safety risks, the MOA said it will not allow construction surplus soil to be stored or used on farmland, and pledged to continue strict oversight to protect agricultural production and food security.
 

2. Fisheries Agency Launches 800-Ton Frozen Storage Program to Support Tilapia Industry

Taiwan’s Fisheries Agency said the government has rolled out supply-demand adjustments and marketing measures to stabilize tilapia prices amid sluggish sales and international market volatility. Since the second half of 2025, domestic online and offline promotions have been launched, with tilapia products included in 2026 Lunar New Year seafood gift sets to expand sales channels. To offset the short-term impact of U.S. tariffs on exports, the Ministry of Agriculture has introduced a frozen storage incentive program covering up to 800 metric tons of farmed tilapia, with subsidies of NT$5 per kilogram for three-month storage and NT$10 for six-month storage. The program will be implemented in major producing areas and aims to ease peak-season supply pressure and support price stability..