One of the primary transmission routes of African Swine Fever (ASF) is through virus-contaminated food waste. In response to the interception in August 2021 of illegally smuggled pork products that tested positive for ASF, environmental protection authorities nationwide complied with the policy of the Council of Agriculture (COA) to suspend the use of food waste as pig feed from 1 to 30 September. During this period, authorities carried out 626 inspections across the 676 pig farms holding valid food waste reuse permits in the 13 designated special municipalities, counties, and cities (New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, and Yilan County). None of the inspected pig farms was found to have illegally used food waste as feed.

The EPA noted that pursuant to the COA’s announcement on 29 September 2021, livestock farms registered with 200 head of livestock or more that have been authorized for food waste reuse by local environmental competent authorities under the Waste Disposal Act were permitted to resume using food waste for pig feed starting 1 October 2021. However, they must strictly adhere to high-temperature cooking standards: continuous stirring during the process, maintaining a core temperature above 90°C, and cooking for at least one hour. The EPA instructed all local environmental protection bureaus to complete regulatory guidance and on-site inspections for all 676 authorized pig farms nationwide before 7 October, ensuring strict compliance with high-temperature cooking protocols to prevent disease transmission. Any farm failing to comply with high-temperature cooking requirements will be cited and penalized under the Waste Disposal Act. Furthermore, farms with fewer than 200 head of livestock found using food waste as feed will be referred to agricultural competent authorities and penalized under the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases and the Feed Control Act.  

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, October 2021