Party and Government "Securing Budget and Promoting Legislation to Prevent the Spread of Livestock Infectious Diseases and Pine Wilt Disease"

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Korea Forest Service Status Check
956 Billion KRW Pest Control Budget and Promise to Enact Forest Disaster Prevention Act

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] On the 16th, the People Power Party and the government checked the current status to prevent winter livestock infectious diseases and the spread of pine wilt disease and promised to secure quarantine and control budgets and promote legislation related to forest disaster response.

Seong Il-jong, chairman of the People Power Party Policy Committee, said at a briefing after the livestock disease and pine wilt disease party-government meeting held at the National Assembly that day, “We received reports on three diseases occurring domestically (Avian Influenza (AI), African Swine Fever (ASF), and pine wilt disease) together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Forest Service, and discussed how the National Assembly will support them.”

He stated, “In the case of African Swine Fever, since it is transmitted through direct contact, we were informed that each farm is responding through thorough prevention and education.” Regarding Avian Influenza, he explained, “It is somewhat highly contagious, and about 12 cases have occurred so far. The affected areas are classified as special zones and are being managed through preemptive measures such as disinfection.” He added, “It also affects laying hens, which may cause egg supply issues. The party has ordered a supply plan to prepare for any emergencies regarding egg supply.”

He also said, “It is true that there is no preventive medicine for pine wilt disease worldwide. The party requested continuous research to protect pine trees, and we discussed increasing budget support focused on research during the session.”

Floor leader Joo Ho-young emphasized in his opening remarks, “Livestock diseases have become almost annual events, but if vigilance is relaxed even slightly and they spread widely, the worst-case scenario of mass culling will be inevitable, causing great losses not only to individual farms but also nationally. Efforts to strictly follow quarantine rules from the farms are necessary, and local governments and related agencies must maintain vigilance in quarantine activities without letting their guard down.”

He added, “We must comprehensively review whether there are any parts of the quarantine guidelines delivered to farms that do not fit reality or any deficiencies in the quarantine facility response manuals to establish a flawless quarantine system. If budget or related law amendments are needed, the party will actively support them.” Specifically, he explained, “We are preparing to reflect a 95.6 billion won control budget in next year’s government budget and to promote the enactment of the Forest Disaster Prevention Act as a legal basis for systematic response to forest disasters.”

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hwang-geun responded, “We are promoting proactive quarantine measures such as restricting the movement of livestock vehicles and people immediately upon occurrence, emergency culling, and disinfection to block horizontal spread to other farms and regions. We are also improving quarantine management facilities at livestock farms and strengthening inspections to prevent outbreaks.” He emphasized, “We will work harder with related agencies and local governments, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to block occurrence and spread.”

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