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Century-Old Lukang Incense Shop Struggles to Survive: Welcomes Government Crackdown on Inferior Goods

 
Facing the impact of imported incense, Shih Yeh-chih, the eighth-generation successor of the century-old Shih Chin Yu Incense Shop in Lukang, Changhua County, has witnessed the decline of Taiwan’s incense industry due to low-priced imports. He emphasized that the domestic industry is currently "struggling to survive" and welcomes the government's determination to implement methods that will allow natural, high-quality incense to endure.
 
Shih Yeh-chih stated that the threat to the survival of Taiwan's incense industry primarily comes from imports from Mainland China. In the early years, the quality of incense produced by Taiwanese-invested factories was relatively good. However, these factories were gradually taken over by local partners in China, who aggressively slashed prices, leading to a drop in quality. It is estimated that imported products now account for 60% to 70% of the Taiwanese market.
 
Chen Wen-chung, a Chiayi County Councilor and founder of the "Hsinkang Incense Art Culture Garden," added that imported incense often contains chemical fragrances—including benzene and alcohol-based solvents—as well as calcium carbonate (stone powder) and other chemical raw materials. These products have soft bamboo cores, emit a pungent odor, and irritate the eyes, making it difficult for people to even keep them open. This not only harms the human body but also contributes significantly to air pollution.
 
 
 
 
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