On October 22, 2025, Taiwan found itself on high alert after the nation reported its first suspected case of African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious viral disease that has devastated pig populations across Asia and beyond. The case, confirmed at a hog farm in Taichung’s Wuci District, set off a rapid series of government responses aimed at containing the outbreak and protecting the country’s vital pork industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture wasted no time, imposing a strict five-day nationwide ban on the transport and slaughter of pigs. This immediate measure was intended to halt any potential spread of the virus, which is known to move quickly among swine populations. Additionally, the government prohibited the use of kitchen waste as pig feed, a common practice in Taiwan, in an effort to eliminate a possible avenue for infection.
Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih addressed lawmakers on October 23, outlining the gravity of the situation. According to Chen, "In the short term, the ban on transport and slaughter will have an impact, but we will try to release frozen pork reserves... If containment fails, losses in the pig industry alone could reach NT$80 billion, while related industries could lose more than NT$100 billion." That’s about US$6.5 billion at stake—a figure that underscores just how central pork is to Taiwan’s economy and culinary culture.
The sequence of events leading up to the discovery of ASF at the Taichung farm reads like a cautionary tale. According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, the first signs of trouble appeared on October 10, when an unusually high number of pig deaths were observed. Although animal health inspectors visited the farm on October 14, they did not collect samples at that time. By October 20, the death toll had climbed to 117 out of roughly 300 pigs. It was only then that samples were taken, and on October 21, the Veterinary Research Institute confirmed the presence of African swine fever.
In response, the remaining 195 hogs at the farm were culled and buried the following day. The ministry also designated a three-kilometer radius around the affected farm as a control zone, launching investigations at neighboring farms and tracing the movement of animals and vehicles.
Tracing the source of the infection has proved challenging. Possible origins include contaminated food waste, smuggled pork products, human carriers, or lapses in biosecurity protocols. The farm in question had recently acquired pigs from another facility in Taichung’s Tanzih District, but no abnormal deaths were reported at that location. Investigators also inspected 33 pig farms that had used the same carcass transport vehicle, finding no evidence of further outbreaks. Two other hog transport vehicles that had entered the affected farm traveled to seven additional farms, which have been earmarked for ongoing inspection.
As the crisis unfolded, Premier Cho Jung-tai convened an emergency response meeting, ordering all ministries to enforce the highest-level containment measures and intensify border inspections. The government called on the Taiwan Frozen Meat Packers Association to release stored frozen pork to help stabilize the domestic pork supply, and plans were made to substitute pork with other meats in school lunch programs, at least temporarily.
The ban on transporting and slaughtering pigs is expected to last at least 15 days, corresponding to the incubation period of the ASF virus. Minister Chen explained that authorities would check for new cases every five days, and if no additional infections are reported after 15 days, the restrictions could be lifted. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Yi-ying cited the ROC Swine Association, saying that the pork industry can withstand a halt in slaughter and the use of kitchen waste for up to 20 days without severe disruption.
The ministry has not instituted a permanent ban on feeding pigs with kitchen waste. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Jong-i noted that there is no confirmation yet as to the cause of the outbreak and pointed out that viruses present in kitchen waste can be killed by steaming at 90°C or higher for an hour—a safety measure used in the US, Japan, South Korea, and the EU.
Kitchen waste management is a major logistical challenge in Taiwan. The country produces about 2,115 tonnes of kitchen waste daily, with 1,385 tonnes coming from households and 731 tonnes from commercial sources. The Ministry of Environment has stepped in to assist with composting or burying leftover food waste from pig farms during the crisis, ensuring that excess waste does not become an environmental hazard.
Meanwhile, the threat of ASF looms large at Taiwan’s borders. On October 23, a dead pig carcass was found washed ashore on the Matsu island of Beigan, near China. The Coast Guard Administration quickly closed off the site, took samples, and oversaw the burning and burial of the carcass by 8:10 p.m. According to Taiwan News, this is not an isolated incident—since 2018, the Coast Guard has recorded 178 instances of pig carcasses found on Taiwan’s outlying islands, raising persistent concerns about cross-border transmission of animal diseases.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Chief Veterinary Officer Tu Wen-jane sought to reassure the public, stating at a Taichung news conference that all 28 slaughtered pigs from the affected farm that had entered the market were confirmed safe. She emphasized that African swine fever cannot be transmitted to humans, and the current ban is strictly to protect livestock health.
In the legislature, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties pressed the government for answers and assurances. Minister Chen outlined additional measures: strengthening disinfection protocols at slaughterhouses and markets, increasing inspections, and coordinating with environmental authorities to process or safely dispose of food waste stored at pig farms. The ministry has also set up a schedule to inspect all pig farms in Taichung within three days of the outbreak’s confirmation.
Despite the swift and comprehensive response, the stakes remain high. The Ministry of Agriculture estimated that if ASF were to spread nationwide, the economic fallout could approach NT$200 billion, threatening not just pig farmers but a web of related industries. The government’s containment strategy—rooted in hard lessons learned from other countries’ experiences with ASF—will be stress-tested in the coming weeks as officials race to prevent further cases and reassure the public about food safety.
In the end, Taiwan’s ASF outbreak has become a test of the nation’s agricultural resilience, emergency response, and cross-sector cooperation. As the government, farmers, and the public brace for what comes next, all eyes are on the effectiveness of these urgent measures—and on the hope that the virus can be stopped in its tracks.
