The Government Is Investigating The Findings Of The Singapore Food Agency Regarding Virus Pigs From Batam

A pig wants to be examined for blood samples in Adonara, East Flores. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade is investigating the findings of the Singapore Food Agency regarding pigs from Batam, Riau Islands, which are infected with the African Swine Fever (ASF).

"We are investigating it. What kind of discovery and we will check with the manufacturers found by the virus. And that again is issues that can arise at any time," said Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, May 4.

In accordance with applicable regulations, Didi emphasized that exporters must ensure exported products comply with the criteria and regulations in force in the destination country, as well as ensure that they are free from viruses and the risk of exposure to the virus and other damage.

Before being sent abroad, the Indonesian Agricultural Quarantine Agency also ensured that the products to be exported had complied with the rules. Likewise with Singapore as an importer.

"The importer, in this case Singapore, ensures that what is exported by the ruminans who pass exports in this case is checked by our Quarantine Agency," he said.

Although Singapore temporarily suspended the import of pigs from Pulau Bulan, Batam, Didi said that his party together with the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) would not check the condition of pigs from other areas. Instead, tighten Batam so that there is no expansion of the spread of the virus.

"This zonation will be tightened in Batam so that transmission is wider and will coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture," he said.

The Singapore Food Agency found the African swine fever virus in the carcass of a pig in a slaughterhouse in the Jurong area, Singapore, where the animal was slaughtered to eat.

Pig imports from Pulau Bulan, Batam, accounted for about 15 percent of the total supply of pork in Singapore or the equivalent of two-thirds of the newly slaughtered pork supply in Singapore.