By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, March 11 — The Selangor Veterinary Services Department (DVS) has drastically tightened regulations on pig transport in the state to curb the spread of African swine fever (ASF) and enhance biosecurity.
Following a recent outbreak in Selangor, state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim said the new restrictions include allowing pig transport only to licensed slaughterhouses.
He said authorities have designated routes for pig transport, and any diversion from these approved paths is illegal.
He added that authorities are set to intensify enforcement to ensure full compliance.
“If a vehicle transporting pigs is found outside the designated routes, the individual responsible has committed an offense and may face legal action.
“Selangor DVS has also stepped up enforcement to regulate the movement of pigs and pig carcasses, especially out of the state, with increased patrols and border monitoring,” he said in a statement today.
In Selangor, Izham said only the Kuala Langat and Sepang districts, as the only locations with pig farms, were affected by the outbreak.
He said surveillance and sampling have been conducted at all 114 farms in the state, where around 76,600 pigs across 56 premises were believed to have been infected.
He said the Selangor DVS aims to have all infected pigs to be culled by March 31.
“(Pigs at) the remaining farms have tested negative for ASF after surveillance and testing.
“Culling and disposal are ongoing, even during the fasting month,” he said, adding that ASF is a non-zoonotic, host-specific disease that only infects pigs, not humans.
Izham said the state DVS has issued 14 orders under Section 19 of the Animals Act 1953 to 14 pig farm owners whose livestock have been confirmed or are reasonably suspected of being infected with ASF.
The notice ordered the affected owners to cull all pigs on their premises to prevent the spread of the disease.
As of February 25, Izham said some 1,200 pigs have been culled via euthanisation with carbon dioxide gas and buried on the farm.
He said methods used were in accordance with the Malaysian Veterinary Standard Operating Procedures.
“Two pig farm owners have complied with this order by culling all pigs on their farms under the supervision of veterinary authorities.
“The first culling was done on February 5, involving about 668 pigs,” the statement read.
