The government is not considering using vaccines that are not recognized by the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) to vaccinate pigs against African swine fever (ASF), Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) told lawmakers on the legislature’s Economics Committee yesterday.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) asked Chen if the government is planning to use an African swine fever vaccine developed by Vietnam, which was recognized by the US Department of Agriculture.
“The vaccine developed by Vietnam has not been recognized by the WOAH, and there is great uncertainty with regard to its effectiveness. We are not considering importing the vaccine at the moment,” Chen said.
Photo: CNA
The council’s job is to lower the risk of an African swine fever outbreak as much as possible by stopping the disease at the nation’s borders, Chen said.
Unlike the foot and mouth disease, African swine fever spreads through food waste processed into pig feed, Chen said, adding that the council has standardized operating procedures in the event of an outbreak at a pig farm.
To prevent a domestic African swine fever outbreak, both carry-on and checked baggage would all be scanned at the nation’s borders, Chen said.
“We have found that pork products often enter Taiwan through packages and parcels delivered from China, Thailand and Vietnam. As such, we have raised the fine to NT$200,000 for first-time offenders who try to bring in pork products from countries and regions affected by African swine fever,” he said.
Two more food waste processing centers are to be established in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, in addition to the ones in Taoyuan, Taichung and Miaoli County, Chen said.
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