Page 129 - 2018 Annual Report Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan

Annual Report 2018 Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) submitted the application before the annual deadline for submission of documents to the OIE, and responded several times to requests from the OIE for additional documents. BAPHIQ thereby successfully aided Kinmen County to follow in the footsteps of Taiwan proper, the Penghu area, and the Matsu area (which had received certifications that they were “FMD-free where vaccination is practiced” in 2017) and received formal recognition of its status as “FMD-free where vaccination is practiced” at the 86th General Session of the OIE in May of 2018. In addition, in order to advance to the next goal, which is to have a zone declared as “FMD-free where vaccination is not practiced,” as of July 1, 2018 there was a complete halt of FMD vaccination of cloven-hoofed animals in Taiwan proper, the Penghu area, and the Matsu area. Before halting vaccinations, in order to ensure that there was no FMD virus activity in the environment, the COA undertook relevant risk-assessment testing (including monitoring of the environment at meat markets and slaughterhouses, testing of sentinel pigs, and experiments on sheep that tested positive for NSP antibodies living with sheep that tested negative for NSP antibodies), and found no traces of FMD virus activity. Since the halting of vaccinations, we have continued to implement the following supporting measures: A. Continued monitoring to ensure there is no FMD virus activity. B. Implementation of control measures like requiring applications to purchase vaccines, storage of vaccines, and buying back vaccines. C. Strengthened checking and guidance work at livestock farms, meat markets, and slaughterhouses. D. Invitation of experts to provide professional consultations, and organization of guidance teams to visit and assist livestock farms. E. Strengthened education and training of disease-prevention personnel and of industrial groups. F. Expanded information dissemination for travelers at our borders and assistance to investigation agencies to strengthen inspection and interdiction of smuggling. G. Continued conducting of relevant disease-prevention exercises in order to upgrade disaster response capabilities. If there are no cases of FMD within a year of halting vaccinations, it is expected that Taiwan can apply to the OIE in September of 2019 to be certied as a zone that is “FMD- free where vaccination is not practiced.” This certification can increase opportunities for the export of pork products and provide an additional bargaining chip in negotiations for imports of foreign meat products, while at the same time it can raise Taiwan’s international status in terms of effectiveness in the prevention of animal disease. 127