Taiwan plans to reintroduce its pork to the international market pending no reports of swine fever and gradual vaccine withdrawal during the next year. The Agricultural Council announced in a press release on Friday that it will start the process towards non-infected status in 2023.
The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) classified Taiwan as a non-epidemic area for swine fever, or foot-and-mouth disease, in June 2020. In order to obtain non-infected status, Taiwan must first cease vaccinations and report no cases for one year. The Agriculture Council expects to submit this information to the WOAH in June 2024.
The council says Taiwan’s swine fever infection rate was as high as 80% in 1948. Vaccines became available for pigs 10 years later, and no cases of swine fever have been confirmed in Taiwan since 2006.
With non-infected status, Taiwanese pork products can return to the international market. WOAH says this renewed market is an opportunity for Taiwan to form stronger trade relationships with the international community.