1. WOAH classifies Taiwan as goat pox-free zone: Agriculture ministry

Taiwan has been classified by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as free of goat pox, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said on December 22^nd, adding that such recognition will greatly benefit the country's goat farming industry. The WOAH recognition was made public on Dec. 19, about three months after the country, which is designated "Chinese Taipei" by the intergovernmental organization, applied to make the change in designation, the MOA said in a press release. Acting MOA Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said that he welcomed such news with "great excitement," noting it is the result of a decade-long effort by Taiwan's authorities and farmers to eliminate goat pox, which was first found in the country in 2008.

2. China resumes‘registered’grouper imports

China is to resume imports of Taiwanese grouper from “registered” fisheries starting immediately, the Chinese General Administration of Customs announced on December 22nd.　Seven fisheries have already obtained authorization and may now export to China, the Fisheries Agency said. The Ministry of Agriculture previously said that it has worked to diversify to other markets since the import ban was instated last year.　Sixty percent of the grouper produced used to be exported, but now the same percentage is sold domestically, the ministry said, adding that it has also expanded processing to sell grouper-based products in other markets such as the US.　In the first 11 months of the year, the value of grouper exports increased by 63 percent from the same period last year, namely to Hong Kong, Malaysia and the US, ministry data showed.