March 28, 2023

Taiwan subjects arrivals from outside country under higher scrutiny to prevent ASF

Arrivals from China, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia will be subjected to stricter vetting as Taiwan ramps up efforts to ward off African swine fever (ASF).

Finer screening will be put in place at a 'green line' meant for visitors with no items to declare at customs. Details of the mechanism will be announced soon, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) Minister, Chen Chi-chung, said at a meeting of the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) on March 24.

The move follows a spike in cases of pork products being intercepted at the borders, either brought in by passengers or through mail and shipping.

Between August 2018 and March 22 this year, Taiwan impounded 5,294 pork items at the borders, 470 of them testing positive for ASF. China, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia are the countries from which most violations were reported, according to CEOC.

Taiwan has battled to keep the virus away with hefty fines, having stayed free from ASF after 17 Asian countries recorded infections.

Authorities believe the surge in pork import incidents can be attributed to revived travel and declined vigilance, hence the need for repeated warnings and new inspection measures.

COA is also stepping up a crackdown on swine farms illegally using food waste as feed. Some farmers have turned to kitchen waste due to the rising cost of pig feed.

- Taiwan News