November 4, 2019

Malaysia to scrutinise pork-based products for African swine fever virus

Malaysia's Health Ministry will conduct sampling on pork-based products to ensure that they are free from the African swine fever virus.

Health director-general Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the sampling was to verify the effectiveness of the retort process, a food processing method.

In a statement on November 3, he said that the ministry through its Food Safety and Quality Division was also working together with Sarawak’s Veterinary Services Department to closely monitor the situation.

Dr. Noor Hisham said the Veterinary Services Department had advised consumers to refrain from buying pork-based products and urged farmers to stop swill feeding practices to prevent the risk of ASF.

It was previously reported that Sarawak had imposed a ban on all pork meat and pork-based products imported from ASF-affected countries including China until further notice.

The move was taken after the Veterinary Public Health Laboratory in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi in Sepang, Selangor, detected the ASF virus in a luncheon pork product which was imported from China, in the state on October 25.

The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry also announced the ASF outbreaks had been confirmed in 10 Asian countries namely China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea and Timor Leste.

- Bernama