May 17, 2024

Malaysia maintains temporary pork import ban amid ASF concerns

Malaysia continues to enforce a temporary ban on the import of pork and pork products from China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Vietnam due to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak that began in 2018, The Sun reported.

This issue resurfaced on social media after AirAsia issued a notice to passengers, warning of fines up to MYR 100,000 (US$21,300) or imprisonment for up to six years, or both, for violating the ban.

Passengers disembarking in Malaysia with pork or pork-based products are required to dispose of them in designated quarantine bins.

An AirAsia corporate communications spokesperson said that the government initiated the temporary ban in September 2018. The ban covers imports from China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Vietnam after ASF was detected in China in August of that year.

Lawyer Radin Amir Afifi Ahmad Aruani explained that the Malaysian government issued the import ban through the Veterinary Services and Customs departments, in accordance with the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728).

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported the ASF outbreak in Malaysia in October 2023. The first confirmed ASF case was in February 2021 in Sabah, with subsequent cases in the peninsula in December the same year. In July 2023, ASF was detected in wild boars in Perak, followed by outbreaks on swine farms in Perak and Kedah in October.

Radin emphasised the importance of maintaining the ban due to health concerns, stating that local production can meet the demand for pork without imports. He noted that restrictions on foreign pork products are common and enforceable by many countries, citing New Zealand's stringent entry regulations as an example.

-      The Sun