KUCHING, Jan 26: The three divisions of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian which supply 80 per cent of pork in Sarawak is free from African Swine Fever (ASF).
As such, Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom assured the public that there is sufficient supply of fresh pork for the coming Chinese New Year.
To control the spread of ASF, the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS) has tightened movement control of live pigs to other divisions with the additional standard operating procedures (SOPs).
These SOPs include issuance of movement permit only to licensed pig farms with farm codes, movement permits to be accompanied by Veterinary Health Certificate, conveyance to be disinfected after delivery of each and every consignment, pig to be marked with their farm code or ear tag for traceability and pig slaughtering is only allowed at abattoirs of local councils or DVS licensed abattoirs.
“DVS will strengthen and impose better biosecurity measures to prevent African Swine Fever from gaining a foothold in the southern region pig production area.
“Again, I would like to remind pig farmers to step up their farm biosecurity and to report of any abnormality in their pig herds to the nearest Veterinary Office.
“To the public, I would like to assure that the pork in the market were slaughtered at the council abattoirs and are safe for human consumption,” said Dr Rundi in a press statement today. — DayakDaily
