“The public can remain calm, but not complacent. The situation is under control, though risks still exist,” Tu emphasized during a press conference in Taichung.
Biosecurity Violations and Human Factors
Director of the Taichung Agriculture Department Chang Ching-chang reported that on October 13, the local Animal Protection Office received a notification about suspected illness among pigs at the farm of a private owner, Chen. Initially, a veterinarian diagnosed a bacterial infection, but after new symptoms emerged, samples were collected and later confirmed to be ASF-positive.
The investigation revealed violations of waste management regulations — the farm had not uploaded data confirming the thermal processing of food waste for pigs since August. Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming stated that this breach might have been one of the contributing factors behind the infection.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen urged lawmakers to tighten legislation and introduce penalties for non-compliance with farm safety rules, saying that “moral persuasion alone is no longer sufficient.”
Authorities also discovered that a veterinary assistant, who had been advising the farmer, lacked a proper license and may have engaged in illegal veterinary practices. Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the case.
Economic Pressure and Extended Restrictions
In response to the outbreak, the government extended the ban on pig transport and slaughter for another 10 days to prevent further spread of the virus. The decision has led to significant economic losses — in Yunlin County, about 75,000 pigs remain on farms, driving up feeding and maintenance costs.
Wu Ying-chi, head of the Yunlin Pig Farmers’ Association, called on the government to launch a pork buyback program to stabilize the market. He warned that once restrictions are lifted, up to 300,000 pigs could flood the market at once, potentially triggering a price collapse from US$3.00 to below US$1.00 per kilogram.
In response, Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih announced the preparation of a comprehensive subsidy program for affected farmers. Meanwhile, the Taichung City Government temporarily waived rental fees for 193 pork vendors operating in municipal markets to ease the financial strain.
Strengthened Oversight
The Ministry of Environment has instructed local authorities to conduct farm inspections at least every two months, and monthly for farms that fail to report proper waste disposal data.
Despite frequent inspections in previous years, no violations had been recorded at this particular farm, raising concerns about the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
Taiwanese authorities stress that although the outbreak has been contained, the risk of further ASF spread remains high, as the virus is easily transmitted through contaminated food waste, animal contact, or human activity.
PigUA.info based on materials from FocusTaiwan.tw