KUCHING: The Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS) has implemented control measures to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) and carried out surveillance activities and awareness campaigns, including Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) since March 2021.
Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said DVS was still actively engaging in awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas and commercial farms.
“Engagement sessions and campaigns were held with commercial farm breeders and association breeders.
“This session has been held three times in Kuching/Samarahan/Serian, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri/Limbang since the first case was reported in Lawas in 2021.”
Dr Rundi was responding to Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s statement regarding the status and control of ASF in Sarawak.
He also said the ban on imported pork and pork-based products from ASF-infected areas had been enforced and implemented under Section 9 (1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, 1999.
“However, smuggling activities and non-compliance with this prohibition are still going on.
“A total of 210kg of pork products were seized at the airport in Sarawak until May 2022.
“Pork products such as canned pork stew are allowed to enter on condition that the products undergo a Hold-Test-Release to guarantee they are free of ASF.
“As of Aug 2, two consignments have been rejected due to positive detection of the virus.”
According to Dr Rundi, to curb the spread of ASF from one division to another, Section 36 of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, 1999 was implemented and livestock movement control was introduced.
“Test and Slaughter Procedure has been implemented in which this procedure only allows registered pig farms and movement permits for pigs to slaughterhouse/district councils respectively to be tested and marked before slaughter for sale.
“Continuous monitoring of slaughtering activities in unregistered abattoirs is also conducted.
“As of August, four compounds have been issued for offences under Section 60 of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, 1999 for slaughtering pigs in an unlicensed slaughterhouse.”
Dr Rundi said that in 2021, a total of RM497,000 was paid to pig farmers in Lawas, Limbang and several parts of Miri as compensation for the disposal of affected livestock.
