The Environmental Management Administration (EMA), Ministry of Environment is promoting the installation of “food waste steaming temperature and video monitoring systems” at pig farms that use food waste. Operators are encouraged to accelerate completion and approval of the monitoring systems. The EMA explained that those who complete installation early and pass joint inspections may resume feeding pigs with food waste earlier.

The EMA stated that three briefings were held on Nov. 10 and 11 in the northern, central, and southern regions, and that operators reached a consensus on installing temperature and video monitoring systems for food waste steaming tanks. The EMA also expressed the hope that pig farm operators will complete installation by Dec. 6 and submit the relevant documentation to local environmental protection authorities by Dec. 31 to apply for subsidy funding.

The EMA noted that, due to insufficient food waste disposal capacity in some counties and cities, plans to establish adequate food waste treatment facilities are under consideration, with inter-ministerial discussions underway between central and local governments on medium- and long-term solutions. However, during this transitional period, resuming the use of food waste for pig feeding must be supported by three complementary measures: a sound legal framework, real-time monitoring, and effective inspections, to ensure the safety of food-waste-based pig feeding during the transition.

The EMA again urges pig farm operators to complete system installation as early as possible and to strictly monitor food waste steaming temperatures to ensure a core temperature of at least 90 degrees C for one hour or more, thoroughly eliminating pathogens, and to work together to safeguard Taiwan’s pig farming industry and environmental sustainability.