TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is poised to become the first Asian country certified as free of all three major swine diseases, with official recognition expected from the World Organisation for Animal Health in Paris this week.

Ministry of Agriculture Deputy Minister Tu Wen-chun (杜文珍) recently left for the French capital to accept the certification on Taiwan’s behalf, capping years of biosecurity efforts, per CNA. The three diseases are African swine fever, classical swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease.

The milestone comes as Taiwan approaches the one-year mark since halting all classical swine fever vaccinations on July 1, 2023. After submitting an application to WOAH last year, the agriculture ministry received provisional approval in March, followed by a 60-day comment period.

Taiwan first battled foot-and-mouth disease in 1997. Following 23 years of prevention, WOAH declared Taiwan free of the disease without the need for vaccines in June 2020.

African swine fever emerged globally in 2018, heavily impacting Asia. Taiwan managed to keep the disease at bay through strict border and farm controls, earning a self-declared ASF-free status on WOAH’s list as of October 2024.

Classical swine fever, a highly contagious and deadly illness, last appeared in Taiwan in 2005. To eradicate it, the government adopted a phased plan: full vaccination and risk monitoring between 2021 and 2022, a gradual withdrawal of vaccines from 2023 to mid-2024, and a formal application for disease-free status thereafter.

Certification will reduce costs for farmers by eliminating the need for vaccines and minimizing stress on animals. Officials say this will cut production costs and increase the competitiveness of Taiwan pork on the global market.