March 4, 2021

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture overturns county's decision to scrap licenses of CP Group

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) has overturned a decision by Hualien County Government to revoke licenses for poultry farms managed by CP Group, Taiwan News reported March 3.

In June last year, the county government announced that it was revoking CP's operating licenses, following protests from residents and environmental groups on at least five farms housing 375,000 chickens in the townships of Guangfu, Fenglin and Shoufeng, citing environmental and traffic safety concerns.

Charoen Pokphand Enterprise (Taiwan) Co. (CP Taiwan) then appealed to the central government, CNA reported. The COA ruled the licenses were still valid as the county was unable to prove the project posed a major threat to the local residents. The county has said it would seek a new review.

A local action group said the COA's decision to appeal directly to the central government was unacceptable, as CP Taiwan had not organised public hearings and communicate with local communities, adding they were "unable to trust CP Taiwan anymore".