TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan is now officially free of African swine fever, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Friday (Nov. 1).
The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) added Taiwan as the second country in East Asia, after Japan, on its list. The move shows Taiwan has been successful in rooting out the animal disease, the MOA said.
The highly infectious disease expanded around the world from 2018. Taiwan used strict border controls as its main strategy to prevent new cases, per CNA.
The MOA submitted a detailed statement about its achievements in the campaign against African swine fever to WOAH in July. Following a review and numerous requests for additional information, the international body agreed to give Taiwan a clean bill of health.
The country had earlier already been declared free of foot and mouth disease and of sheep pox. The latest WOAH measure will have a far-reaching influence on the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s pork sector, according to the MOA.
Taiwan also applied to the WOAH to be declared free of classical swine fever, with a decision expected in May 2025. If approved, Taiwan would become one of the few countries in Asia free of all three major pig diseases.