M`SIA: NEW PERMITS TO IMPORT PORK NO LONGER ISSUED

CHANGLUN (Malaysia), May 4 (Bernama) -- The Agriculture and Agro-Based
Industry Ministry will no longer issue new permits to import pork following the
Influenza A (H1N1) epidemic, said its deputy minister, Mohd Johari Baharom.

He said this would be effective immediately as a precautionary measure,
although findings had shown that the animal was not the cause of the disease.

"Clinical research on samples of mucus, saliva and faeces of the animal
taken from 14 farms in Selangor and five in Melaka have tested negative," said
Mohd Johari.

When met by reporters at a seminar, here Sunday, he said the Veterinary
Department would also monitor other animals that might have caused H1N1.

According to Mohd Johari, the permit issued to companies importing pork from
China, Europe, Australia and Vietnam will also be revoked if the Influenza A
epidemic worsened.

He said research was also conducted on imported pork to ensure that they
were not contaminated with the the H1N1 virus.

Mohd Johari added that applications for import permits would be relaxed once
the situation improved, but only to cater to the country's needs.

"The Veterinary Department has monitored developments on the Influenza A
epidemic daily since it surfaced, while pig farms are monitored throughout the
year and not just when epidemics threaten our lives," he said.

Mohd Johari said authorities visited 202 farms nationwide and had not found
any reports of the H1N1 disease.

He said the Veterinary Department had been directed to conduct research to
prepare a guideline on managing a world-class pigpen that fulfilled the
requirment of the World Health Organization (WHO) for pig breeders.

He said last year the authorities paid more than 40,000 visits to 797 pig
farms nationwide, especially those in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka,
three southern states in Peninsular Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA