TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Agriculture is set to add 955 animal species to the list of those banned from import or possession, CNA reported on Sunday.

The ministry’s animal protection department said it will prioritize regulating the import of animals not listed under the Wildlife Conservation Act. The department will also prohibit the import of highly toxic animals or those posing serious risks to humans.

The department said the list is expected to include 22 categories, such as spectacled caimans, all species of armadillos and beavers, Burmese pythons, raccoons, and alligator snapping turtles.

According to the Taiwan Amphibian and Reptile Association, the evaluation of the newly added prohibited species was conducted by the Industrial Technology Research Institute. It expressed concerns the institute may lack sufficient expertise, potentially compromising the accuracy of the assessment.

The association said that before the new regulations, only nutria, piranhas, electric eels, and pit bulls were subject to import restrictions. It said that local government agencies may lack the expertise and resources needed for identification and enforcement of the expanded list.

Chiang Wen-chuan (江文全), a chief of the animal protection department, said the list is still under discussion and will not be enforced immediately.

Chiang said that invasive species, such as the green iguana, may threaten the nation's ecosystem. He said that keeping exotic pets requires consideration of their potential impact on humans and the environment.

Chiang added owners of prohibited species can continue keeping them, provided they declare their possession. Zoos and exhibition operators are not included in the ban.