TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet on Thursday said Taiwan will ban the use of food waste as pig feed by 2027, allowing a one-year grace period for farmers to transition to commercial feed.
The move has raised concerns among black pig farmers, who rely on food waste to remain cost-competitive with white pig producers.
During the grace period, farmers may continue using food waste if they meet government requirements and avoid household food scraps, per UP Media. Farmers must obtain local government approval, install monitoring systems for heat-treatment processes, add GPS devices to transport vehicles, and undergo inspections.
To help farmers make the switch, the Ministry of Agriculture will offer subsidies of NT$3,600 (US$115) per pig, capped between NT$300,000 and NT$3 million depending on farm size. Additional loan-related subsidies will also be available.
For farms that continue using food waste during the transition period, the subsidy drops to NT$1,800 per pig, though other forms of assistance remain the same. The ministry said the difference is intended to encourage the immediate adoption of commercial feed.
Kaohsiung banned food-waste feed in late October, while Pingtung allows only animal by-product scraps from slaughterhouses, per Liberty Times and CNA. Pingtung Deputy Magistrate Huang Kuo-jung (黃國榮) said such by-products are tradable but must still meet regulatory requirements.
To support black pig farmers, the agriculture ministry is breeding pigs suited for feed-based rearing, per CNA. The Taiwan Livestock Research Institute has also developed specialty black-pig feed.
Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) acknowledged past resistance to commercial feed due to higher costs. He proposed that the ministry will use brand marketing to improve the market price for black pigs, helping farmers offset the cost of switching from food waste.
New Taipei black pig farmer Li Tang-chi (李當期) said farmers may abandon black pigs entirely if the new feed is more expensive and lower in quality than food waste. He added that a proposed new breed offers no short-term benefit.
Pingtung Black Pig Farming Association Chair Fang Chih-yuan (方志源) agreed, urging the government to prioritize establishing heat-treatment centers, per UDN. He said a similar specialized feed launched seven years ago failed due to cost, and stressed that allowing slaughterhouse scraps would offer farmers a safe and affordable option.
Some Taichung farmers expressed frustration over the permanent ban, noting that even with subsidies, installing heat-treatment and monitoring equipment can cost about NT$200,000. They pointed out that the expense would become worthless once the ban takes effect, per UDN.
Pig farmer Liu Chia-shun (劉嘉順), who built Taiwan’s only food-waste processing center, warned his NT$50 million investment may also be rendered worthless, per PTS. He urged the government to recognize the value of such centers, which convert waste into usable feed.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) addressed concerns that food waste processing fees may rise, saying costs could reach NT$5 to NT$8 per kilogram but may fall as processing capacity expands, per Commercial Times. He urged local governments to ensure food waste does not accumulate on streets.
