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Faced with the progress of African swine fever (ASF) in Asia, Malaysia increases the precautions to avoid the entry of the virus in this country, as published by the Ministry of Agriculture of Spain in its Foreign News Gazette. In this way, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry of Malaysia has not only forbidden the import of pigs and pork products from affected countries such as China, Vietnam, Poland, Belgium and Cambodia, but has also expanded this prohibition to Thailand, as Malaysia borders Thailand to the north, and therefore Thailand will act as a containment area. Also, the Malaysian Inspection and Quarantine Services (MAQIS), are strengthening the controls in the international airports to avoid the entry of products from countries affected by ASF in the traveller's luggage, as well as through the land border with Thailand. Likewise, the controls to avoid the illegal imports of products from unauthorised sources are being increased.
In this sense, we must highlight the concern of the Ministry of Agriculture of Malaysia for the possible imports of piglets for their consumption that were traditionally brought from Vietnam. The local authorities are also implementing a surveillance and monitoring plan on wild boars, and inspections on commercial farms in Malaysia.
The Minister of Agriculture of Malaysia tries to raise awareness in the production sector regarding the disastrous consequences that the introduction of this virus would have, so the sector assumes an active responsibility regarding the prevention and control against this disease. Likewise, Malaysia has a contingency plan against ASF with an operative group composed by several agencies.
According to the figures provided by the Farmers' Association of Malaysia, there are, in Peninsular Malaysia, some 500 pig farms with an approximate population of a million and a half pigs, and with the ability to supply 93% of the domestic pork and pork products demand.
Thursday, June 20th, 2019/ Foreign News-MAPA/ Spain.
https://www.mapa.gob.es
