This Regulation is enacted pursuant to Paragraph 2 of Article 5 of the Taipei City Self-Government Ordinances on Consumer Protection (hereinafter referred to as the “Self-Government Ordinances”).

The major consumer-related disasters stipulated in this Regulation refer to any event that falls within the following circumstances:
1. where the consuming places or the goods or services provided by business operators within the Taipei City endanger safety or sanitation, resulting in the death of three or more consumers, the serious injury of five or more consumers, or the severe harm to the bodies, health, or properties of twenty or more consumers;
2. other disasters that cause a material impact on consumer safety in daily life or consumer rights and interests, as determined by the Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as the “City Government”).

The City Government may render the following legal support, depending on actual requirements, upon the occurrence of major consumer-related disasters:
1. assist consumers in filing applications to the court for provisional attachments of the properties of business operators, responsible persons of enterprises, or any other legally liable parties;
2. assist consumers in handling civil settlements or compensation matters;
3. assist in conducting document retrieval related to liability insurance procured by business operators, to facilitate consumers in applying for claims;
4. assist consumers in filing lawsuits and, when necessary, in applications for litigation aids;
5. render legal advice.

Where legal support is rendered as stipulated in Subparagraph 1 of the foregoing Article, the executive authorities as defined in Paragraph 1 of Article 2 of the Self-Government Ordinances (hereinafter referred to as the “Executive Authorities”) or the consumer ombudsmen shall assist consumers in conducting document retrieval related to the properties of business operators, responsible persons of enterprises, or any other legally liable parties, pursuant to applicable laws.

Where legal support is rendered as stipulated in Subparagraph 2 of Article 3, it shall be rendered by the Executive Authorities or the consumer ombudsmen pursuant to the Consumer Protection Act.

Where legal support is rendered as stipulated in Subparagraph 3 of Article 3, the Executive Authorities or the consumer ombudsmen shall conduct documents retrieval related to liability insurance procured by business operators from the business operators, related parties, the relevant competent authorities under the central government, various competent authorities under the City Government, or other relevant authorities (organizations).

Where legal support is rendered as stipulated in Subparagraph 4 of Article 3, the Executive Authorities or the consumer ombudsmen may request assistance from consumer protection groups or associations legally established and authorized to render such legal support, or may assist individual consumers in filing lawsuits.

Where legal support is rendered as stipulated in Subparagraph 5 of Article 3, the Executive Authorities or the consumer ombudsmen may request assistance from consumer protection groups, associations legally established and authorized , or bar associations for the appointment of lawyers to render such legal support. Such support may also be rendered by lawyers from the legal team convened and established by the Department of Legal Affairs of the City Government (hereinafter referred to as the “Department of Legal Affairs”).

The following expenses may be subsidized at the discretion of the City Government, based on actual requirements and the availability of the annual budget:
1. expenses related to legal support as stipulated in Article 7 shall be subsidized pursuant to the Taipei City Regulation on Grants and Subsidies for Consumer Protection Groups. Attorney fees incurred by individual consumers in filing lawsuits may be subsidized at the discretion of the City Government;
2. transportation expenses, consultation fees, or other necessary expenses may be subsidized at the discretion of the City Government when rendering legal support as stipulated in the foregoing Article.
The required funds for the foregoing paragraph shall be defrayed by the various Executive Authorities or the Department of Legal Affairs from their respective annual budgets.

Applicants for legal support as stipulated in this Regulation shall be the affected consumers or, in the case of deceased consumers, their parents, children or spouses. Under special circumstances where the affected consumers are unable to apply in person, their parents, children or spouses may apply on their behalf.
Applications for legal support shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Authorities or the consumer ombudsmen, and shall include the following information along with relevant documents and evidence:
1. the names, domiciles or residences of the applicants and their relationship with the affected consumer; in cases where authorized agents are appointed, the names, domiciles or residences of the agents;
2. statements related to the consumer harm incidents;
3. the items for which legal support is being applied.

This Regulation shall be enforced from the date of promulgation.