A pig carcass drifting ashore in Kinmen has tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF). The Ministry of Agriculture announced today (17th) that all pigs and related products from Kinmen will be prohibited from being exported to Taiwan's main island and other offshore islands from now until June 23. However, approved companies that passed risk assessments may continue exporting, and more than 40 companies have been listed on the whitelist.

According to the Kinmen County Government, on June 14, the Coast Guard reported the discovery of a pig carcass at Kin Ning Ci Ti shore, where prevention personnel immediately took samples, conducted incineration, and comprehensive disinfection. The sample was sent to the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Research Institute for PCR testing, confirming a positive result for ASF, with a 100% genetic similarity to the ASF virus currently circulating in China. The county government also pointed out that within a 10-kilometer radius of the carcass site, there are 25 pig farms raising approximately 5,500 pigs; comprehensive inspections revealed that all pigs are currently healthy and show no signs of infection.

To safeguard the livestock industry, the Agricultural Ministry has implemented temporary preventive measures in accordance with the Animal Infectious Disease Prevention Law, banning the transport of pork products from Kinmen for one week. However, over 40 entities, including Shengzu, Liangjin Industrial, and Qiaoan Farm, are on the approved list and may continue exporting products such as dried pork, rice dumplings, radish cakes, cooked food, and hot pot soups. For more information, please visit the website of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Furthermore, the prevention bureau urges all livestock farm operators to enhance vigilance, strictly enforce preventive management including wearing specialized clothing, thorough cleaning and disinfection, prohibiting outsiders and foreign vehicles from entering the premises, and refraining from feeding kitchen waste to pigs. By working together, we can keep ASF at bay and avoid further impacts on the industry.