2025 Taiwan African swine fever outbreak

Between 10 and 20 October 2025, 117 pigs at a pig farm in Wuqi District, Taichung, Taiwan died abnormally. On 22 October, the Ministry of Agriculture detected a positive nucleic acid reaction for the African swine fever virus (ASF), with the virus strain suspected to be highly similar to strains found in Vietnam. This marked the first time that African swine fever viral nucleic acid had been detected in pigs in Taiwan.[1][2] The outbreak was officially confirmed on 25 October following virus isolation tests.[3]

Process

Main article: African swine fever prevention in Taiwan

On 26 October, during its 38th meeting, the Central Disaster Response Center for African Swine Fever pointed out discrepancies regarding the number of pig deaths and records of food waste treatment at the affected pig farm in Taichung. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Tu Wen-chen stated that the records reported by the farm owner did not match those of rendering plants and that the cooking procedures for food waste did not comply with regulations.Peng Chi-ming of the Ministry of Environment explained that although the farm fed pigs with food waste, it had failed to upload daily cooking records as required and had not submitted any records in August. The Taichung City Government under Mayor Lu Shiow-yen had conducted inspections only in May and July, failing to meet regulatory requirements. Relevant information was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture for epidemiological investigation and assessment.[4]

On 30 October, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang announced that Taiwan's airports would no longer separate passengers into different inspection channels. Regardless of whether passengers arrived from African swine fever-affected regions, all luggage would be subject to inspection.[5]

Reactions

Ban on pig slaughter and transportation

Following the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture held a press conference and ordered a nationwide ban on the transportation and slaughter of pigs for five days beginning at noon on 22 October 2025. The feeding of pigs with food waste was completely prohibited, and frozen pork from government reserves, equivalent to one month's supply, was used to meet market demand. Pork exports were also suspended.[6]

On 26 October, during a video conference of the African Swine Fever Disaster Response Center chaired by Cho Jung-tai, Premier of the Republic of China, it was announced that the ban on the transportation and slaughter of live pigs, originally scheduled to end that day, would be extended for another ten days until 6 November.[7]

Personnel changes involving the heads of the Taichung Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Protection, and Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office

On 6 November 2025, the Taichung City Government announced the dismissal of Chang Ching-chang, Director of the Agriculture Bureau，Taichung City Government, Chen Hung-yi, Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, Taichung City Government，and Lin Ju-liang, Director of the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office.[8][9]

However, the three officials were not actually removed from public service.[note 1] Chang applied for retirement, Chen was demoted from grade 13 to grade 12 technical supervisor, and Lin was demoted from grade 10 to grade 9 specialist in the Economic Development Bureau.[10]

Strengthening border controls

On 6 November 2025, in order to strengthen border controls, the Ministry of Agriculture amended relevant provisions of the Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases. Under the revised regulations, both senders and recipients of mailed parcels containing pork products would be subject to penalties.[11]

Kerry TJ Logistics' non-cooperation with inspections

On 23 October 2025, the Kaohsiung City Government Department of Health discovered that a shipment of pork suspected of being contaminated had been transported by a business operator from Changhua County to a Kerry TJ Logistics depot in Daliao District. The operator delayed reporting the vehicle's location and falsely described the contents of the shipment, hindering food safety inspections. Consequently, the Kaohsiung City Government imposed a fine of NT$3 million on Kerry TJ Logistics Company Limited under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and referred the case to the Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office for investigation.[12]

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai later stated at a press conference that companies attempting to evade investigations should face severe penalties.[13]

Contradictory statements by the Taichung City Government

Regarding whether veterinarians had visited the affected pig farm, the Taichung City Government stated on 22 and 23 October that a contracted veterinarian surnamed Chi had visited the site. On 24 October, the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office stated that another veterinarian surnamed Wang had been present. On 26 October, it changed its account, saying that Wang was actually a veterinary assistant employed by a pharmaceutical company rather than a licensed veterinarian. On 27 October, it further stated that Wang had not visited the site and had only received a phone call from the pig farmer.[14][15]

Also on 27 October, authorities stated that a veterinarian surnamed Lai from the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office had visited the farm before 14 October.[16] On 28 October, they revised their account again, stating that Lai had been accompanied by another veterinarian surnamed Chi.[17]

Suspected tampering of rendering triplicate forms

After pigs died, rendering facilities were required to complete triplicate forms to verify the number of dead pigs. The first copy was retained by the rendering plant, the second by local animal disease prevention authorities, and the third by the pig farmer. In this case, the triplicate forms were suspected of having been altered, resulting in discrepancies in the reported number of pig deaths.[18]

Unauthorized cleaning and disinfection by the Taichung City Government

On 2 November, without notifying the Ministry of Agriculture and contrary to standard operating procedures, the Taichung City Government conducted cleaning and disinfection at the site, affecting the field sampling that had been scheduled for 3 November. The Taichung City Government later stated that the incident resulted from personnel at the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office misunderstanding instructions.[19]

According to the Disaster Response Center's investigation, the food waste cooking equipment used by the affected pig farm had broken down in April 2025.[20]

Irregularities in the "Food Waste Cooking Reporting System"

The affected pig farm had failed to upload data daily to the "Food Waste Cooking Reporting System" since May. Most of the photographs submitted between May and July were uploaded retroactively, and the majority of them had actually been taken in October. As a result, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office launched an investigation.[21]

Failure of the Taichung City Government to conduct proper inspections

In response to abnormalities in the "Food Waste Cooking Reporting System", the Taichung City Government carried out inspections only once each in May, July, and October, rather than conducting monthly inspections as required by regulations, and claimed that no problems had been found during those inspections.[22][20]

Failure of the Taichung City Government to test for African swine fever

When the Taichung City Government submitted samples to the Ministry of Agriculture on 20 October, it initially requested testing only for respiratory pathogens, including Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Additional testing for African swine fever was conducted only after Huang Yu-liang, Associate Research Fellow at the Veterinary Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture, recommended it.[23]

Control Yuan investigation

In February 2026, the Control Yuan stated that officials had failed to recognize that the number of pig deaths had exceeded warning thresholds, had submitted contradictory epidemiological investigation reports, had allowed subordinates to carry out unauthorized disinfection operations, and had attempted to evade responsibility. Consequently, former Taichung Department of Agriculture Director Chang Ching-chang, former Environmental Protection Bureau Director Chen Hung-yi, former Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office Director Lin Ju-liang, and office section chief Chou Pai-chun were impeached for violating the Civil Servant Service Act and referred to the Disciplinary Court.[24]

Criminal investigation

In November 2025, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office ordered the detention of the father and son who operated the affected pig farm.[25] In February 2026, the two were indicted on charges including violations of the Waste Disposal Act, forgery, and fraud under the Criminal Code of the Republic of China.[26]

References

  1. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-22). "台中養豬場疑似非洲豬瘟 農業部：待病毒株分離確認" [Suspected African Swine Fever at Taichung Pig Farm; Ministry of Agriculture Awaits Confirmation via Viral Strain Isolation]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  2. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-23). "農業部：台中非洲豬瘟病毒初步分析與越南相似度高" [Ministry of Agriculture: Preliminary analysis shows high similarity between the African Swine Fever virus found in Taichung and the strain from Vietnam.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  3. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-25). "台灣首例非洲豬瘟台中梧棲案場確診　將通報世界動物衛生組織" [Taiwan's first case of African Swine Fever confirmed at a farm in Wuqi, Taichung; World Organisation for Animal Health to be notified.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  4. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-26). "非洲豬瘟台中案場疫調疑點多　廚餘處理通報不符規定" [Epidemiological investigation into African Swine Fever case at Taichung farm raises multiple questions; reporting on food waste handling failed to meet regulations.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  5. ↑ 黃瑀喬 (2025-10-30). "石崇良稱入境檢疫一律查核行李 應變中心：提高查驗比例" [Shi Chong-liang states that luggage is checked for all inbound travelers; Response Center: Inspection rate to be increased.]. 公視新聞網 PNN (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  6. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-22). "台灣疑現首例非洲豬瘟　農業部：豬肉暫停出口、釋出庫存穩定供應" [Taiwan Suspected of Detecting First Case of African Swine Fever; Ministry of Agriculture Halts Pork Exports and Releases Stockpiles to Stabilize Supply]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  7. ↑ 中央社訊息平台. "禁令再延長10天 中央召開非洲豬瘟災害應變中心視訊工作會議 | 中央社訊息平台" [Ban Extended by Another 10 Days; Central Emergency Response Center for African Swine Fever Holds Video Conference]. www.cna.com.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  8. ↑ "台中爆非洲豬瘟破口、疫調錯誤百出 農業局、環保局長雙雙被拔官" [Taichung faces a breach in African Swine Fever containment and an epidemiological investigation riddled with errors; the heads of both the Agriculture Bureau and the Environmental Protection Bureau have been dismissed.].
  9. ↑ 吳仲安 (2025-11-06). "非洲豬瘟防疫失職 台中市3局處首長遭拔官" [Heads of three Taichung City government departments removed from office over failure to properly implement African swine fever prevention measures.]. 公視新聞網 PNN (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  10. ↑ "非洲豬瘟遭免職3官員去向曝光 議員怒轟不是懲處：是嘉獎這些人" [Whereabouts of three officials dismissed over African Swine Fever revealed; lawmaker furiously slams the move, calling it a reward rather than a punishment.]. Newtalk新聞 (in Chinese). 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  11. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-11-13). "農業部：違規輸入含豬肉包裹　無論故意或過失最高罰百萬" [Ministry of Agriculture: Maximum fine of NT$1 million for illegal import of parcels containing pork, whether intentional or due to negligence.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  12. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-26). "嘉里大榮載運染疫豬肉涉規避調查　高市府罰300萬元送法辦" [Kerry TJ Logistics fined NT$3 million and referred for prosecution by the Kaohsiung City Government for allegedly evading investigation while transporting pork infected with disease.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  13. ↑ 聯合新聞網. "嘉里大榮物流運5噸豬瘟高風險貨物還規避調查 陳其邁：給予重罰" [Kerry TJ Logistics transported 5 tons of high-risk cargo (linked to African Swine Fever) while evading inspection; Chen Chi-mai vows severe penalties.]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  14. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2025-10-27). "梧棲獸醫是否到場台中說法反覆 應變中心：必須是獸醫師現場診斷" [Taichung’s statements regarding whether a veterinarian was present at Wuqi have been inconsistent; the emergency response center maintains that on-site diagnosis by a veterinarian is mandatory.]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  15. ↑ 游瓊華 (2025-10-27). "台中豬瘟案情大逆轉！獸醫、獸醫佐都沒去　「電話問診」內幕曝" [Major twist in the Taichung swine fever case! Neither the veterinarian nor the veterinary assistant visited the site; details of the "telephone consultation" revealed.]. www.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  16. ↑ TTV (2025-10-27). "5天5說法！中市府稱沒採檢是「動保處賴姓獸醫」 農業局疫調挨轟" [Five different explanations in five days! Taichung City Government claims a veterinarian surnamed Lai from the Animal Protection Office was responsible for the failure to conduct testing; the Agriculture Bureau faces backlash over its epidemiological investigation.]. 台視新聞網 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  17. ↑ 陳凱俊. "第4名獸醫出現了！台中非洲豬瘟最新疫調曝光「副市長道歉」　議員酸：可以湊一桌" [A fourth veterinarian has entered the picture! Details of the latest African Swine Fever investigation in Taichung have been revealed, prompting an apology from the deputy mayor—while a councilor quipped that there are now enough of them to make up a full table for a game.]. 鏡週刊 Mirror Media (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  18. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-29). "非洲豬瘟案場死豬化製三聯單疑塗改　台中市府：已送檢調" [Suspected alteration found on rendering triplicate forms for dead pigs at African Swine Fever-affected site; Taichung City Government refers case to prosecutors and investigators.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  19. ↑ 王龍韜 (2025-11-02). "台中市府擅自清消案例場 農業部憂檢驗結果出現誤判" [Taichung City Government Disinfects Site Without Authorization; Ministry of Agriculture Concerned About Potential Misinterpretation of Test Results]. 公視新聞網 PNN (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  20. 1 2 自由時報電子報 (2025-11-03). "豬農廚餘蒸煮機壞半年、中市府稽查「沒問題」議員：廢弛職務又說謊" [Pig farmer's food waste steamer broken for six months, yet Taichung City Government inspection found "no issues"; councilor: dereliction of duty and lying.]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  21. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-11-03). "台中非洲豬瘟案場廚餘蒸煮申報照片涉偽造　地檢署啟動調查" [Photos submitted for swill-cooking compliance at an African Swine Fever-affected farm in Taichung appear to have been falsified; the District Prosecutors' Office has launched an investigation.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  22. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-10-27). "台中養豬場未傳送廚餘資料 盧秀燕籲修法訂罰則" [Taichung pig farm fails to transmit food waste data; Mayor Lu calls for legislative amendments to establish penalties.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  23. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2025-11-06). "獨家》關鍵守門員！獸醫所黃有良驗出國內首例非洲豬瘟陽性檢體" [Exclusive | A Key Gatekeeper! Huang You-liang of the Veterinary Research Institute Detects the Country's First African Swine Fever-Positive Sample]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2025-11-06. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  24. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2026-02-11). "台中市府非洲豬瘟處置失當 監院彈劾4官員、移送懲戒 | 政治" [Taichung City Government mishandled African Swine Fever response; Control Yuan impeaches four officials and refers them for disciplinary action.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  25. ↑ 華視新聞網 (2025-11-04). "非洲豬瘟「死豬數量兜不攏」　台中豬農父子涉登載不實遭羈押禁見" [Discrepancies in African Swine Fever Death Toll: Taichung Pig-Farming Father and Son Detained and Held Incommunicado Over False Reporting]. 華視新聞網. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  26. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2026-02-25). "台中洽興畜牧場非洲豬瘟案　檢起訴業者籲從重量刑" [Prosecutors indict operator in Taichung's Chia-Hsing Livestock Farm African Swine Fever case and call for a heavy sentence.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-23.
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