Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Malaysia gov’t bans pork from Indonesia amid ASF outbreak

Malaysia gov’t bans pork from Indonesia amid ASF outbreak

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The Agriculture Ministry of Indonesia has confirmed ASF outbreak in Northern Sumatera, making Indonesia the 11th country affected by it in Asia. afp

Malaysia gov’t bans pork from Indonesia amid ASF outbreak

The Malaysian government has banned pork-related products from Indonesia starting December 13 following the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

Tourists are also banned from bringing in pork-related products into Malaysia, said Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Sim Tze Tzin.

The Agriculture Ministry of Indonesia has confirmed ASF outbreak in Northern Sumatera, making Indonesia the 11th country affected by the outbreak in Asia. Other countries are: Cambodia, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, South Korea, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines and Timor-Leste.

Sim said this when handing out school aid to 180 recipients under the “Back to School 2020” in Bayan Baru yesterday.

Enforcement officers are urged to be stringent at the airports in screening travellers’ luggage as the current period is considered peak season due to school holidays and festive season with high number of tourists.

“The local pork industry is worth RM5billion (US$1.21 billion) and is 93 per cent self-sustainable. The ban does not affect sales of pork in Malaysia as only 7% of pork are imported. The public should not be worried of increase in price of pork due to the ban,’’ said Sim.

Since November last year, Malaysia started to ban import of pork-related products, including frozen pork products from 10 countries affected by ASF outbreak in stages.

Sim said the Health Ministry would be carrying out raids at shopping malls, restaurants and food outlets to check on pork related products.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry has confirmed the ASF outbreak in Indonesia. FAO is liaising with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services.

The Director of Animal Health requested FAO to provide recommendations on containment and control of African Swine Fever. The Indonesian Agriculture Ministry has not released any information so far.

More than 27,000 pigs have been culled while several thousands of pigs are at risk, said animal health officer.

The authorities claimed that tens of thousands of pigs have been culled for the last few months in many provinces in Northern Sumatera. The number of pigs culled is believed to be increasing.

The Medan Veterinary office head said on average 1,000 to 2,000 pigs die every day. The number is relatively small as compared to 1.2 million pigs in Northern Sumatera. However, pork is the main food for the Christians in the region despite majority of Indonesians are Muslims.

More than 1,000 pigs were discarded at water channels last month. The authorities are digging out the dead pigs from the water channels to bury them. The police are tracing those involved in discarding the dead pigs into water channels.

SIN CHEW DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry taking steps over Thai ‘replica’ of Angkor Wat

    The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has dispatched experts to inspect the ongoing construction of a temple in Wat Phu Man Fah, located in Thailand’s Buriram province. This temple appears to be a replica of Cambodia’s renowned Angkor Wat. The ministry said

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former