Taichung: Prosecutors have indicted a father and son for falsifying evidence related to an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak at their pig farm in Taichung's Wuqi District last October. They are recommending the court impose heavy sentences.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office charged the individuals, both surnamed Chen, with fraud, document forgery, and filing false reports under the Waste Disposal Act. Their actions were described as having "seriously harmed national interests."
The case is linked to Taiwan's first domestic ASF outbreak, confirmed on October 25, following the death of 117 pigs at the farm earlier in the month. The farm was authorized to recycle kitchen waste as pig feed, requiring strict boiling procedures and photographic or video evidence of compliance.
Investigations revealed that the younger Chen uploaded outdated photos from 2022 as proof of compliance between January 2023 and September 2025. The farm reportedly inflated its use of kitchen waste and gas, resold excess waste to other farms, and filed false reports through an unidentified agent.
When a significant number of pigs began dying in October 2025, the operators allegedly did not report the outbreak and instead used antibiotics. They underreported deaths and improperly disposed of 46 pig carcasses. Authorities confirmed ASF following inspections and culled the remaining pigs on October 22, 2025.
The prosecutors also alleged that the operators administered amoxicillin without veterinary oversight and sold 28 pigs with a false health declaration for over NT$320,000 at auction. Although Taiwan had been declared ASF-free in May 2025, the outbreak led to a temporary nationwide ban on pig transport, slaughter, and the use of kitchen waste as feed.
The Ministry of Agriculture is working to regain ASF-free status with the World Organization for Animal Health, with recent tests indicating no further cases. The affected farm was cleaned and disinfected, with negative samples reported on November 21, 2025.