Pig transport, slaughter bans extended by 10 days amid ASF outbreak

Taipei, Oct. 26 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Sunday said that the ban on the transport and slaughter of pigs will be extended for another ten days to control an ongoing African swine fever outbreak that began in Taichung.

At a news conference, Cho said that disease control measures will be planned in five-day stages and subject to review and adjustments as needed.

He said that the second "five-days of combat" was beginning, with "stricter prevention and no room for relaxation," following the first five days, which began when the controls were first implemented on Wednesday and ended Sunday.

After the Taichung City government provided the initial disease-tracing information, the central government is strengthening efforts to track pork distribution from the source and control seized meat, with immediate destruction ordered for any suspected infections to prevent the virus from spreading, Cho said.

Food waste processing across the country will be closely monitored, ensuring that the transportation, storage and landfill sites are safe. Comprehensive inspection will be conducted on the 435 pig farms legally permitted to use food waste as feed on their cooking and storage equipment, he said.

Cho said that a second round of visits and inspections to relevant sites will commence Monday to prevent spread.

Border quarantine will be strictly implemented at airports, with all custom officers on duty during peak travel periods, 100 percent X-ray inspections and increased spot checks, Cho said.

The Coast Guard and customs authorities will intercept smuggling operations, while local police will crack down on stalls and stores that sell illegal meats, he added.

Cho called for self-discipline on the part of relevant businesses for better control at the sources and collaboration from the public to achieve the combat plans.

Also on Sunday, Chunghwa Post told the press that imported containers and packages will go through X-ray inspections at customs, with items suspected to contain animals or plants reported to the Ministry of Agriculture for testing before they are delivered in the country.

Occasionally, quarantine detector dogs will be deployed at border controls, the state-run company added.

Meanwhile, in Yunlin County, which raises about one-third of Taiwan's pigs, the Yunlin Pig Farmers Association supported the 10-day extension of transport and slaughter bans for the industry's sustainability, according to association president Wu Ying-chi (吳英吉).

However, Wu told CNA that he hopes the government will work with businesses such as cold chain and meat processing operators to ensure market stability after the bans are lifted, and even consider setting a guaranteed pork price of NT$90 (US$2.92) per kilogram to prevent price fluctuations.

He said that the feed conversion rate of a mature pig reduces significantly after it reaches 120 kg, so an influx of large pigs into the market can be expected after a 15-day slaughter ban.

Meanwhile, Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) of the opposition Kuomintang urged the central government to impose a total ban on feeding pigs with food waste, saying it is the biggest source of African swine fever infections.

She said the current situation shows that the government must demonstrate determination to eradicate the disease, prevent future outbreaks, and ensure public confidence in food safety.