According to the announcement, all porcine commodities (including pork, swine, and pig-derived products) originating from or transiting through Taiwan are now subject to strict ASF-related import controls. The scope and form of restrictions may vary by region and will be refined as new epidemiological information becomes available.
Key Measures
Live Swine and Genetic Material
- The importation of live pigs and swine germplasm (such as semen and embryos) from Taiwan is strictly prohibited.
Processed Pork Products and By-products
- If arriving as cargo, shipments must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or official certification from Taiwan’s competent authority verifying that the products have undergone heat treatment or equivalent processing in compliance with APHIS requirements.
- If brought in passenger baggage, only shelf-stable products that have been fully cooked and hermetically sealed (e.g., canned goods) are allowed. In all other cases, an import permit or certification is required.
Unprocessed Pork Products and By-products
- If arriving as cargo, importation is prohibited, except in limited cases where the goods are consigned directly to a USDA-approved establishment for processing.
- If brought in passenger baggage, importation is strictly prohibited, except for fully taxidermy-finished hunting trophies or items shipped directly to USDA-certified facilities.
APHIS emphasized that these restrictions are designed to prevent the introduction of the ASF virus into the United States. Although ASF does not affect humans, it is highly contagious among pigs and can cause severe economic damage through large-scale culling, trade restrictions, and costly disinfection measures.
On October 14, Taiwan confirmed its first-ever case of ASF in pigs at a farm in Taichung. In response, local authorities imposed bans on pig transport and slaughter and expanded sanitary inspections and food waste monitoring.
The United States, which has previously introduced similar measures for other Asian countries, stated that these restrictions are temporary but preventive and will be reviewed once Taiwan’s epidemiological situation stabilizes.
PigUA.info based on materials from ThePigSite.com