S’wak bans canned pork from China
Published on: Monday, October 28, 2019
By: Bernama
KUCHING: Sarawak has enforced a temporary ban on pork and pork-based products imported from countries affected by African Swine Fever (ASF), including China.
The Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS), in a statement, said it had conducted tests on 17 canned luncheon pork imported from China for African Swine Fever Virus and DNA of ASF virus was detected in one of the samples.
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The virus DNA detected was confirmed by the department’s Veterinary Public Health during a laboratory test using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (q-PCR), which was conducted on Friday.
“So far, no African Swine Fever infection in pigs has been reported in the State. The detection of the virus does not change Sarawak ASF-free status.
“Sarawak has enforced all pork and pork products import ban from ASF-infected country, including canned pork products from China until further notice,” said the department in a statement, Sunday.
DVSS and other agencies will conduct checks on all supermarkets and the affected products will be removed from shelves.
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Products in shipment will need to undergo “hold-test-release” mechanism to ensure they are free from ASF virus contamination, it said.
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To date, the department has detained 20kg of animal products at all entry points brought by travellers.
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Compounds were issued due to the violation of import export conditions under the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.-NST