Taipei: Taiwan will lift its nationwide ban on live pig transport at noon on Thursday, with slaughter, pig auction, and carcass transport set to resume at midnight on Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced Wednesday. Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih, who also serves as head of the Central Emergency Operations Center for African Swine Fever (ASF), made the announcement at a press conference following the center’s meeting.

According to Focus Taiwan, Minister Chen stated that “except for the case in Taichung, no other sites have reported African swine fever.” He explained that the “failure to properly boil kitchen waste was the main cause of the outbreak” and outlined that three conditions – complete inspection, comprehensive monitoring, and full legal compliance – must be met for the ban on using kitchen waste to be lifted. Additionally, the ministry plans to provide subsidies to support pig farmers.

Lin Nien-nong, head of the Animal Health Inspection Division of the MOA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA), said at the press event that to ensure a smooth reopening, 53 meat markets and slaughterhouses nationwide began large-scale disinfection on Wednesday under the supervision of slaughterhouse hygiene inspectors. Lin emphasized that pork stalls must complete disinfection before markets reopen on Friday, while the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will oversee local governments’ implementation. Both the MOA and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) will supervise the cleaning of carcass transport vehicles.

Pigs found dead at a farm in Taichung’s Wuqi District tested positive for ASF on Oct. 21, and virus analysis on Oct. 25 confirmed the case as Taiwan’s first outbreak of the disease. In view of the virus’s 15-day incubation period, the MOA imposed a nationwide suspension on live pig transport and slaughter from noon on Oct. 22 until noon on Nov. 6.