TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Agriculture’s ban on pig slaughter and transport due to African swine fever, implemented in two five-day increments, has sparked concern among consumers and pork vendors in traditional markets who worry about their livelihoods.

Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said Monday that the first round of nationwide inspections covering all 5,441 pig farms was completed by noon, with no abnormalities detected. Chen said ASF has a 15-day incubation period and “complacency is dangerous,” as the ministry pursues the goal of “zero infections,” per CNA.

After consulting with experts, Chen said movement controls will be expanded to include vehicle disinfection and personnel management. A second round of farm visits will also begin on Tuesday.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said local health bureaus have been instructed to step up inspections of meat supply chains. Vendors selling imported pork must provide import declarations, while local meat sellers are required to show slaughter certificates.

Addressing concerns about possible private pig slaughtering during the ban, Chen said the practice is largely obsolete, as most pigs are registered and processed at certified slaughterhouses. He added that inspections will be tightened during this period.

At Taipei’s Huannan Market, pork vendors expressed frustration over what they described as sudden and poorly coordinated measures. While they acknowledged the importance of food safety, they said the lack of fresh pork and unclear communication from authorities confused many, per UDN.

Huannan Market, which has 196 meat stalls and 26 processing areas, has been hit particularly hard. Lin Sheng-tung (林勝東), president of the Huannan Market Autonomous Association, said many butchers are unsure how they will sustain operations. “These hasty actions leave us no time to prepare. Some stalls may sell frozen pork temporarily, while others will simply close,” Lin said.

He added that the ASF news broke after most wholesale pork sales were completed early Monday morning, so there was no immediate impact on demand.

A consumer surnamed Chang (張) said she seldom buys pork at traditional markets, preferring hypermarkets or supermarkets instead. Although ASF does not infect humans, she said she remains uneasy and may avoid pork “for the foreseeable future.”

The Taipei City Animal Protection Office confirmed that all private pig farms in the city were shut down in 2019, with inspections showing none have resumed operations. Only the National Taiwan University Farm and Taipei Zoo currently raise pigs, both under strict biosecurity controls to prevent infection.