On October 22, 2025, Taiwan’s agricultural landscape was jolted by news that sent ripples through its pork industry and beyond: the island had detected its first-ever cases of African swine fever (ASF). The confirmation came after samples from dead pigs at a farm in Wuqi district, Taichung, tested positive for the virus’s nucleic acid, according to multiple reports from the Associated Press, CNA, and other news outlets. For a nation that has long prided itself on strict biosecurity and remained free from this devastating disease, the development marked a sobering turning point.
The farm in question, home to around 300 pigs, had seen a rapid and unexplained die-off—117 pigs perished between October 10 and 20. Following the positive test, animal protection authorities moved swiftly, culling all 195 pigs that remained on the premises. They didn’t stop there: the site underwent thorough cleaning and disinfection, and a three-kilometer control zone was established around the property to prevent any chance of the virus spreading further.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) wasted no time rolling out additional emergency measures. Beginning at noon on October 22, a five-day ban on the transport and slaughter of pigs was imposed across the island. This wasn’t just a knee-jerk reaction; officials explained that the ASF virus has a 15-day incubation period, so the ministry would monitor for new cases every five days. If no new infections surfaced after 15 days, the restrictions would be lifted. However, the ban on feeding pigs with kitchen waste—a practice under increasing scrutiny—was announced without a set end date, as authorities continued their investigation into the outbreak’s origins.
Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih addressed journalists, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “Virus isolation takes two weeks, but we can’t wait. We must implement the highest standards to prevent and control this suspected case of African swine fever,” Chen said, as reported by the Associated Press. The ministry also announced plans to isolate the virus strain before officially reporting the case to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), a process expected to take about two weeks.
For Taiwan, the stakes are high. The island boasts a pig population of around five million, and its pork industry is a major economic pillar, generating approximately NT$70 billion (US$2.3 billion) annually. President Lai Ching-te took to Facebook to urge calm, stating, “If any abnormal deaths or suspected animal infections are found among pigs, please immediately report them to the local animal quarantine authorities.” He called on local governments, livestock associations, and farmers to remain "highly vigilant."
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Jong-i clarified that the MOA had no plans to permanently ban the use of kitchen waste as pig feed, pending confirmation of the outbreak’s cause. According to international guidelines, specifically those set by the WOAH, kitchen waste can be safely used as feed if it’s cooked at temperatures above 90 degrees Celsius for at least an hour. However, questions lingered about whether these standards had been met at the affected Wuqi farm. Taichung City Councilor Lin Te-yu publicly called for greater transparency, urging the city government to disclose operating records for kitchen waste cooking devices and to intensify inspections across local pig farms.
The suspected route of transmission is a familiar one for countries battling ASF: illegal importation of pork products. Minister Chen suggested that contaminated meat, smuggled into Taiwan and subsequently incorporated into food waste systems, likely introduced the virus to the farm. Taiwan has long enforced strict import controls, including meticulous baggage searches for arriving travelers and hefty fines—up to NT$1 million (about US$32,500)—for anyone caught bringing in uninspected meat products. Despite these measures, the porous nature of borders and the persistence of smuggling have remained thorny challenges.
Taiwan’s response has been both swift and comprehensive. In addition to the culling and transport bans, authorities expanded inspections of pig farms, suspended pork exports, and announced that frozen pork would be used to meet domestic demand during the crisis. Pigs en route to slaughterhouses or markets were to be culled and tested for ASF at those facilities, with vehicles and markets thoroughly disinfected. The public was also advised not to purchase pork products online or bring them onto the island—a reminder of just how easily the virus can hitch a ride across borders.
For years, Taiwan had watched from afar as ASF swept through Asia, decimating pig populations in China, Vietnam, and beyond. In 2019 alone, millions of pigs were culled in neighboring countries as the virus spread relentlessly. According to the World Organization for Animal Health’s October 2025 report, South Korea was the only other Asian country with a confirmed ongoing outbreak at the time, while twelve European nations were also battling the disease. Until now, Taiwan had managed to avoid a domestic outbreak, though infected pig carcasses had occasionally washed ashore on its islands—likely having floated over from mainland China. Fortunately, those cases were contained without further consequence.
ASF is notorious for its lethality among pigs—it’s almost always fatal—but it poses no risk to humans or other animals outside the pig family. Still, the economic and social consequences of an outbreak are severe. Pork is a staple of the Taiwanese diet and a linchpin of rural livelihoods. The specter of mass culling, trade disruptions, and consumer panic looms large over affected communities.
In the midst of the crisis, Taiwanese authorities have sought to balance decisive action with measured reassurance. “No abnormalities have been observed elsewhere so far,” Deputy Agriculture Minister Tu Wen-jane told a press conference in Taichung, as reported by AFP. The hope is that rapid containment and vigilant monitoring will keep the virus from gaining a foothold beyond Wuqi district.
Yet the outbreak has also reignited debates about food waste management and biosecurity on the island. While the use of kitchen waste as pig feed is both traditional and economical, it carries inherent risks if not properly sterilized. The coming weeks will likely see renewed scrutiny of farm practices, import controls, and the broader systems that underpin Taiwan’s food security.
For now, the eyes of Taiwan’s farmers, officials, and consumers are fixed on the next two weeks. If the containment measures hold and no new cases emerge, the bans will be lifted, and the island may yet avoid the worst-case scenario. But the episode is a stark reminder of how quickly a single breach—intentional or accidental—can threaten an entire industry. As Taiwan navigates this delicate moment, vigilance, transparency, and community cooperation will be its best defenses against a virus that knows no borders.
