Summer travel season arrives, Immigration Agency urges citizens to prevent African Swine Fever

As the summer travel season peaks, Taiwan's Immigration Agency is reminding citizens and visitors to remain vigilant against African Swine Fever (ASF). The agency is emphasizing the importance of preventing the re-entry of the disease, which could devastate the island's pig farming industry.

Taiwan was officially recognized as an ASF-free region by the WOAH in April, a significant achievement after the disease was first detected in October last year. This recovery makes Taiwan the only country in Asia to be free from Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Classical Swine Fever, and African Swine Fever – the three major swine diseases.

However, with many people traveling abroad and returning with souvenirs, the risk of reintroducing ASF remains. The Immigration Agency specifically warns against bringing pork or pork-containing products into Taiwan. Customs data shows that travelers are the primary source of violations, with 542 individuals fined NT$200,000 last year for illegally carrying pork products from affected areas. Some foreign nationals were denied entry for failing to pay the hefty fines.

The agency has been actively conducting outreach, organizing over 300 promotional events and distributing more than 56,000 informational flyers to foreign residents, overseas students, and migrant workers. These efforts aim to educate the public about the risks associated with ASF and the importance of border biosecurity. The agency stresses that an ASF outbreak would not only cause immense economic losses to the agricultural sector but also incur substantial societal costs for containment and recovery.