'FMD Blockade'... Gyeonggi-do Restricts Movement of 'Cattle and Pig Manure' Until February Next Year

Distinguished Movement of Cattle within Gyeonggi (Incheon) Region / Pigs within Southern and Northern Gyeonggi Regions

Reference photo [Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province will implement restrictions on the movement of cattle and pig manure outside designated zones from November this year to the end of February next year, the high-risk period for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurrence and spread.

According to the province on the 22nd, raw manure from small-scale cattle farms within the province can only be moved within Gyeonggi and Incheon. Movement to adjacent cities or provinces is only allowed after thorough fecal testing, provided that clinical examinations of the livestock show no abnormalities and the antibody positivity rate meets the standard.

For pig manure, to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), under the currently enforced "enhanced quarantine measures," movement is restricted within designated zones divided into southern Gyeonggi (24 cities and counties excluding the northern region) and northern Gyeonggi (Gimpo, Goyang, Paju, Yeoncheon, Yangju, Dongducheon, Pocheon).

The province completed prior announcements of movement restrictions to 31 cities and counties as of November 1 to ensure smooth enforcement of the cattle and pig manure movement restrictions.

Using livestock vehicle visit information (GPS) from the National Animal Disease Control Integrated Information System (KAHIS), the province plans to monitor manure transport vehicles moving outside designated zones.

Vehicles suspected of visiting farms or manure treatment facilities outside the designated zones will undergo on-site inspections and additional investigations. If violations are confirmed, strict administrative actions will be taken according to relevant regulations.

Violations of the regulations may result in imprisonment for up to one year or fines up to 10 million KRW.

Movement is not restricted when transporting composted or liquid manure from farms or finished compost products produced by fertilizer manufacturers.

Meanwhile, since the first occurrence of FMD in 2000 within the province, a total of nine outbreaks have occurred, resulting in the culling of 1.9 million head of cloven-hoofed livestock. Recently, two cases occurred in Anseong in 2019, leading to the culling of 2,223 animals.

Kim Jong-hoon, Director of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division, stated, "While these movement restrictions may cause inconvenience to some farms and businesses, they are unavoidable measures to prevent foot-and-mouth disease. We ask for the active cooperation of livestock farmers and related industries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.