Taiwan at least 3 months away from regaining ASF-free status: MOA

Taipei, Oct. 25 (CNA) Taiwan will only be able to regain African swine fever-free status after three months of no new cases, following an outbreak at a farm in Taichung, the Ministry of Agriculture said Saturday.

Du Li-hwa (杜麗華), director-general of the MOA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA), told a news conference that if the outbreak is well contained during that period, Taiwan will submit a new self-declaration to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

● African swine fever control measures to last 15 days: MOA

Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季), who heads the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) handling the infection, said besides notifying the WOAH, the agency will also formally inform Taiwan's trade partners of the outbreak.

Currently, Taiwan has suspended the issuance of animal quarantine certificates for exports of live pigs, pig semen, and fresh pork products, Chen said.

In May, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to become free of African swine fever, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.

However, a farm in Taichung was confirmed Saturday as the site of Taiwan's first ASF outbreak after samples taken from dead pigs on Tuesday tested positive for the virus.

● Taichung farm confirmed as site of Taiwan's 1st African swine fever outbreak

The transport and slaughter of pigs has been banned nationwide, with the use of kitchen waste as pig feed prohibited since noon Wednesday, Chen said, adding that such control measures are to last 15 days due to the virus's incubation period.

Addressing concerns about potential pork shortages, Lin Nien-nong (林念農), head of the APHIA's Animal Health Division, said the ministry has asked the Taiwan Frozen Food Processors Association to release existing stock to supermarkets and wholesale stores before the control measures are lifted.

Nationwide pork stocks total 60,000 metric tons, enough to meet daily consumption of about 2,300 metric tons for roughly a month, Lin explained.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment has banned the feeding of kitchen waste to pigs at all hog farms in Taiwan for a minimum of 15 days starting Wednesday, including restrictions on transporting such waste to farms.

During this period, authorities will assist farmers with the disposal of existing kitchen waste at designated facilities, as well as provide fuel subsidies of NT$500 (US$16.20) and NT$1,167 per trip, depending on the size of their herd, the CEOC said.

Separately, the MOA announced Saturday that shipments of live pigs and pork products from the Matsu Islands to Taiwan proper have been suspended until Nov. 1, after a dead pig found on a beach in Beigan on Thursday tested positive for the ASF virus.

Disinfection was carried out immediately, the CEOC said, adding that the carcass could have likely drifted from China, as inspections of three nearby farms found no abnormalities.