August 21, 2013

The ministry is concerned that fresh outbreaks could result from a lack of epidemic prevention activities at livestock farmhouses during the summer period and the conclusion of the special animal health control period in June which was needed before the country could attain a foot-and-mouth disease-free status from the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) in 2014.

Since foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and avian influenza have not recurred over the past two years, livestock farmhouses tended to pay less attention towards animal health controls and some have not been vaccinating livestock against FMD during summer, said the ministry.

To resolve the issue, intensive inspections will be implemented to encourage epidemic prevention activities at livestock farmhouses, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, livestock industry vehicle registration stays at 63%, despite the implementation of regulation on January 1, 2013. MAFRA will continue its promotional activities until August and conduct a crackdown on violations starting in September, to help increase the number of registrations. In all 41,000 vehicles out of the 65,000 have been registered.

Central and local government inspection will be implemented separately after vulnerable livestock farmhouses have been selected for intensive inspection and epidemic prevention, including FMD vaccinations. Joint inspection will be carried out by MAFRA and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (Central Inspection Office) by 18 officials from nine offices.

An autonomous inspection plan will be set up and implemented by the authorities in cities and provinces. The MAFRA inspections will include comprehensive animal health control conditions such as the implementation of disinfection, control of people and vehicle access, FMD vaccination status and animal health control training for foreign workers. Breeches of regulations could be subjected to heavy fines of up to US$4,500.