"Essentially, they expressed their readiness to import pig carcasses from Bulan island, Indonesia," Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health at the ministry Nasrullah noted in his statement received here on Saturday.
Nasrullah remarked that the National Veterinary Authority had held a virtual meeting with the Singapore Food Agency on April 28 during which they discussed about the investigation of African Swine Fever (ASF) found in pigs from farms in Bulan Island that had been exported to Indonesia.
Although the export of live pigs from Bulan Island is temporarily suspended due to ASF, it is still possible to export pig carcasses, he noted.
Nasrullah said that it is also possible to export live pigs, albeit after testing their health.
He said that Singapore is open to discuss technical measures they can undertake in order to continue live pigs exports, considering that Bulan Island is its biggest pork exporter.
Director of animal health at the Agriculture Ministry Nuryani Zainuddin -- who is also part of the National Veterinary Authority -- remarked that her administration has sent a team to the animal farm in Bulan Island from April 24 to April 29 to investigate and follow up on the ASF case reports in that place.
"According to results from Agriculture Ministry's Veterinary Lab in Bukittinggi, it is confirmed that there is ASF case in one of the farms, which causes the suspension of living pigs' import from Bulan Island to Singapore," she elaborated.
Riau Islands Veterinary Authority also limited the movement of live pigs and their products from Bulan Island, as per applicable regulation, she remarked. Zainuddin noted that they also monitor the depopulation, disposal, and disinfection processes.
The ministry has, in fact, taken precautionary measures to handle the risk of ASF in that island by setting farms as ASF-free compartments, she explained.
She revealed that they had also approved of 22 sub-units of ASF-free compartments for Bulan Island's farms. Hence, if the infection was found in one unit, then the other units can still export their products to Singapore, she added.
"We have proffered guidance and assessment on the implementation of biosecurity and animal health management in Bulan Island, which is why the ASF-free compartment status is given," she added.
Related news: Bulan Island's hogs test positive for African Swine Fever: IAQA
. Related news: Ministry probes Singapore's findings of ASF in Batam pigs
Translator: Kuntum Khaira R, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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