TAIWAN EXPECTED TO BE FMD-FREE WITH VACCINATION IN MAY|口蹄疫"施打疫苗非疫區" 台灣將列入

Taiwan is banned from exporting its pork and pork products because of swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. On Mar.15, The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said that Taiwan is expected to be listed as an FMD-free country with the use of vaccination in May by the World Organization for Animal Health. Starting from July 2018, Taiwan will stop the use of vaccination to become an FMD-free country without using vaccination, hoping to decrease challenges of exporting. Taiwan is currently listed as a country infected with foot-and-mouth disease by the World Organization for Animal Health. However, since May 2013, there has been no FMD cases in Taipei, Penghu, and Matsu for two years. It is likely that Taiwan can be put on the list of FMD-free country with the use of vaccination in May. ==SHIH HUA-TAI Deputy Chief of BAPHIQ== We were notified by the OIE that Taiwan has passed the screening. The OIE will issue a certificate to Taiwan in May. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said that starting from July 2018, Taiwan will stop the use of vaccination to become an FMD-free country without using vaccination. The government thinks that this can not only elevate Taiwan's international image but also open the door to exports. However, pig farmers hold a different opinion. ==CHANG CHING-PIN GM of R.O.C. Fed. of Swine Corporation General Catalogue == We have lost the Japan market for 20 years. Those who have accessed to the market and have gained steady profits from it will not just give it up that easily. Pig farmers said that over 90 percent of Taiwan's pork are sold within the country for domestic demand. Taiwan has little advantage of exporting pork because the international pork market is competitive and production cost is relatively high. It takes time to develop international customers. Some pig farmers even think that now is not the time for Taiwan to stop using vaccination. ==LAI CHING-CHOU Director of Taichung City Swine Association== After stopping using vaccination, what will the government do if there happens to be virus mutation? If an FMD case is reported, should all the pigs be culled? How would the government cover the losses of pig farmers? Although the disease is under control, there is still possibilities of infection and virus mutation. Pig farmers worry that the stop of using vaccination may cause an outbreak of FMD. They hope the government can develop supporting measures to ensure their interests. TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH 台灣豬肉因為豬瘟以及口蹄疫，無法向國際出口，但防檢局今日公布，包括台澎馬地區，有機會在5月，獲得世界動物組織認證，從疫區轉為"施打疫苗非疫區"，明年7月也將停打疫苗，努力爭取成為不打疫苗非疫區，可望降低出口障礙。 一隻隻小豬頭好壯壯，豬農對自己養出來的出很有信心，不過台灣在世界動物衛生組織的分類中，還是屬於口蹄疫區，而從2013年5月開始到2015年，已經兩年沒有出現新的口蹄疫案例，台澎馬可望從疫區轉為"施打疫苗非疫區"。 ==農委會防檢局副局長 施華泰== （世界動物衛生組織)最近通知我國 已經通過審查 將在今年五月 頒發證書給我們國家 防檢局預計今年五月，向世界動物衛生組織爭取成為"施打疫苗的非疫區"，如果成功，將在明年七月開始停打疫苗，讓台灣地區脫離口蹄疫的疫區，不僅可以提升國際形象，也可打開外銷市場大門，不過看在豬農社團眼中，沒這麼簡單。 ==中華民國養豬合作社聯合社總經理 張青斌== 日本這塊市場 已經不見了20年 相對這些進到日本市場的 既得利益者或是 現有廠商 國外競爭者 他已經穩固他的市場 他不太可能馬上輕易放掉 豬農團體認為，台灣生產的豬肉，九成以上只供內需使用，如果要出口，光是生產成本、客源和市場就沒有優勢；雖然拔針有助提升國際形象，不過打開通路還要時間，也有豬農認為，拔針時機還沒到。 ==台中市養豬協會理事長 賴清洲== 你拔針以後 如果(病毒)有變異出來 你要怎麼去處理 好像說 你這場(豬場)中了 要馬上全部封鎖 還是全撲殺 撲殺的話 政府要怎麼去補貼 有豬農認為，雖然疫情已經受控制，不過除了還是有野外感染的風險，也擔心病毒變異，沒打疫苗反倒產生大爆發，希望政府可以研議好配套措施，保障豬農。 林健生 賴世杰 吳嘉堡 綜合報導