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The Taiwanese Bureau of Animal and Plant Health, Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) reported on February 19 that it has removed Italy from the list of countries free of African swine fever, thus suspending the entry of live pigs, semen, pig embryos and pig meat and products from Italy.
BAPHIQ is drawing on the increase in African swine fever cases in recent years on the Italian island of Sardinia to make this decision. According to available data, Italy reported 45 cases in domestic pigs in 2017, 90 in 2018, and 27 during the first half of 2019.
The veterinary authorities will impose fines on passengers carrying pig products.
According to BAPHIQ statistics, the top five suppliers in terms of export volume of pork in 2019 were Canada, the United States, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands. The volume of pork imports from Italy amounted to 1,747 metric tonnes, representing 1.6 % of the total volume of imports, putting Italy ninth. Taiwan authorized imports of pork and pork products from Italy in the year 2018.
The ban follows the Italian government's ban dating February 2 on flights to and from Taiwan due to the outbreak of COVID-19. According to several Taiwanese media, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Joanne Ou, said at a press conference that the decision to remove Italy from the list of countries not affected by ASF was not related to Italy's flight ban.
February 19, 2020/ BAPHIQ/ Taiwan.
https://www.baphiq.gov.tw
