Pork imports from Japan banned after the publication of a report on porcine cholera

The Agriculture Council yesterday announced a ban on imports of Japanese pork after reporting another case of classical swine fever, pork cholera.

The disease is different from African swine fever that affects China, the council said.

On September 9, Japan reported its first case of classical swine fever in 26 years to the World Organization for Animal Health, which suspended its status as an uninfected zone, announced the Bureau of Inspection phytosanitary and phytosanitary quarantine in a press release.

After learning of the second case in Japan on Friday, the council imposed an immediate ban on the import of pigs and Japanese pork products to protect the national pork industry from the consequences of the deadly disease. he declared.

Classical swine fever is a ribonucleic acid virus, while African swine fever is a DNA virus, the office said, adding that there are vaccines for classical swine fever, but none for African swine fever.

However, pigs exhibit similar symptoms when they contract one of the most contagious diseases, including fever and haemorrhage, which usually result in death, he added.

The ban would not affect the domestic supply of pork, as Japanese pork products represented only 0.06% of the country's total pork imports of 40 tonnes per year. he added.

Taiwan has not reported any cases of classical swine fever since 2007, said Tu Wen-jane (杜文珍), chief executive of the office, adding that the inspections would continue at customs to block pork imports from Taiwan. areas infected with swine disease.

At the same time, African swine fever in China has spread to 18 provinces and regions, with 69 cases reported in breeding pigs and a case found in a wild pig yesterday, the council said.

Minister of the Council, Lin Tsung-hsien (), yesterday inspected the quarantine measures at the Kaohsiung International Airport, where customs authorities intercepted dried beef and chicken steak as a returning traveler. from China wanted to import into the country.

Lin told the traveler about the potential consequences of African swine fever in Taiwan.

He called on people to help defend the country's livestock industry.