Image reproduced from 非凡新聞

Recently, a dead pig that washed ashore in Kinmen tested positive for the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus, drawing significant attention. The Ministry of Agriculture announced today (17th) that starting immediately and until June 23, all pork products, including live pigs and related products from Kinmen, would be banned from being exported to Taiwan's main island and other outlying islands. This ban includes pig carcasses, offal, fresh, and processed goods.

According to the Kinmen County Government, the pig corpse was discovered following a report from the Coast Guard on June 14. Immediately, biosecurity personnel took samples, incinerated the carcass, and conducted thorough disinfection. Subsequent tests confirmed that the pig's tissues were positive for ASF virus nucleic acid, with a 100% similarity in the viral gene sequence to strains currently circulating in China.

To assess the risk, all pig farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the discovery site, where there are 25 farms housing approximately 5,500 pigs, were thoroughly inspected, finding no signs of infection. Nevertheless, to safeguard the livestock industry, the Ministry of Agriculture has implemented immediate biosecurity measures, suspending the transport of pork products from Kinmen for one week.

Despite the ban, firms that apply through the Kinmen County Government and pass the risk assessment by the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine can still export their products. Over 40 companies have been listed in a whitelist, including manufacturers of dried meats, rice dumplings, cooked food, and hot pot soup bases. Details can be found on the Bureau's website.

The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine urged all livestock operators to remain vigilant and strictly enforce biosecurity measures, such as wearing specialized clothing, regular disinfection, prohibiting outsiders and their vehicles from entering the farms, and preventing the feeding of kitchen waste to pigs. Only through joint efforts can the spread of ASF be halted and the future of the livestock industry secured.