Premier Cho Jung-tai says Taiwan has now regained its status as free of
African swine fever.

It comes after the Ministry of Agriculture announced earlier this month that
Taiwan's self-declaration of freedom from the African swine fever virus was
officially approved by the World Organization for Animal Health.

Taiwan detected its first A-S-F case on October 21 of last year at a farm in
Taichung - that after becoming the first country in Asia to hold disease-free
status for all three swine diseases following recognition in May of last
year.

The agriculture ministry applied to regain disease-free status on February 21.

According to the premier, the government has been working actively to seeking
international certification over the past six months and he's also thanking
the pork industry for working closely with the government to maintain strict
controls.

The premier says government will continue to strengthen border controls,
disease prevention systems, and cooperation with industry.