February 8, 2007

Taiwan's pig insurance programme to keep sick hogs from the market

Taiwan is expanding its insurance programme against sick and dead hogs to help pig farmers get compensation and to stop selling their sick or dead pigs to underground pork suppliers.

Taiwan's authorities had arrested several unlicensed pork sellers selling what was believed to be tainted pork in recent weeks. More than 23 tonnes were seized from illegal slaughterhouses.

Insurance programmes were started in two counties on a test basis in 2005 with 620,000 pigs covered. The figure has now expanded to 3.15 million head in 10 counties and cities. Officials expect the figure to rise to 5.7 million head in 18 counties and cities throughout Taiwan.

All sick and dead hogs have to be verified after being sent for destruction so that hog farmers will get financial compensation.

Despite constant inspection and installation of global positioning system (GPS) to closely monitor trucks transporting sick and dead hogs for destruction, the pork of sick and dead hogs has continued to flow into local markets and restaurants.

Plans are afoot to revise the Animal Butchering Law to increase the maximum sentence for offenders to seven years in prison.