Halt supply of live pigs in Hong Kong for first three days of Lunar New Year, industry urges amid African swine fever fears
- Stakeholders say this is to allow time for cleansing operations in slaughterhouses, with impact on the public to be minimal
Hong Kong’s pork industry has suggested halting the supply of live pigs in the city over the first three days of the Lunar New Year period to conduct thorough cleansing operations amid African swine fever concerns.
The proposed action was to “raise public confidence” in pork consumption, an industry representative said on Tuesday. The mainland is Hong Kong’s biggest supplier of live pigs, and last August, the virus was detected among livestock there.
“We want thorough cleansing and disinfection [in slaughterhouses],” said Lam Wing-yuen, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Livestock Industry Association.
The sector said it hoped to reach a consensus with the government by the end of the week, before proceeding with the plan.
The mainland supplies about 3,500 to 4,000 live pigs to Hong Kong daily, on top of 250 to 300 that come each day from local farms. There are two main slaughterhouses in the city – in Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan.
We want thorough cleansing and disinfection [in slaughterhouses]
Lam said the industry was seeking to cease abattoir operations for live pigs between the eve of Lunar New Year and noon of the third day of the festival, meaning fresh pork would not be available in the city between February 5 to 7. The suggestion came after a meeting among sector stakeholders on Monday.