China warns pig trade against African swine fever cover-ups as Taiwan concerns grow
CHINA (Reuters) - China has warned the country's pork industry that covering up cases of African swine fever is a crime, days after a dead pig was found on a Taiwanese beach prompting Taipei to claim Beijing was not sharing accurate information on the disease
4 January 2019
3 minute read
By: - Beijing reiterates laws on reporting animal disease
- Around 100 cases of African swine fever reported to date
- Taiwan claims Beijing not sharing accurate information
- Dead pig found on Taiwanese island had the disease
China's animal husbandry and veterinary affairs bureau is stepping up investigation and punishment of illegal activity in the pig industry, said a statement published on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs website on Friday.
Failing to report deaths and privately slaughtering and selling sick or dead pigs would be pursued under criminal law, it said, and compensation of 1,200 yuan ($175) for each pig culled was sufficient incentive for farmers to report the disease.
In the worst epidemic of the disease ever seen, China has confirmed about 100 cases of African swine fever across 23 provinces since August last year. The disease, for which there is neither cure nor vaccine, is deadly to pigs but does not harm people.
But many experts believe it is even worse than has been reported, and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen urged Beijing last month to "not conceal" information about the disease.
Tsai raised the issue again in a New Year's speech after a dead pig was found on a beach on Taiwan's Kinmen island, a half-hour ferry ride from the east coast of China. The pig has since been confirmed to have the African swine fever virus, while another dead pig was found on a nearby island on Friday, Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported.
"During our recent efforts to prevent an African swine fever epidemic, China's government has never followed the relevant agreements and provided Taiwan with accurate, real-time reports about the epidemic situation," she said.
China has repeatedly said that the disease has been effectively dealt with and is under control. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not immediately respond to a fax seeking comment on Friday.
The dead animals found on the Taiwanese islands have stoked fears that Taiwan's pigs could soon become infected with the disease.
Taiwan's herd of 5.39 million pigs is tiny compared with China's 700 million, but pork is the most popular meat in both places and domestic production in Taiwan reduces its need for imports of the staple meat.
($1 = 6.8661 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Ryan Johnson
Ryan worked in conservation from 2008 to 2017, during which time he operated a rainbow trout hatchery and helped to maintain public and protected green spaces in Canada for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. As editor of The Poultry Site, he now writes about challenges and opportunities in agriculture across the globe.
