Japan Imposes Stricter Animal Quarantine Measures on South Korea

Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

2019/9/25 14:00

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Sept. 25, 2019 /Kyodo JBN/ --

Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries JAPAN

Japan Imposes Stricter Animal Quarantine Measures on South Korea

-Measures against First African Swine Fever Case Reported in South Korea by Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries JAPAN-

In reaction to an African swine fever (ASF) case in the South Korean province of Gyeonggi, Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries JAPAN (hereinafter AQS) in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, has strengthened inspections of passenger baggage from South Korea and kept a vigilant eye on any ASF incursion.

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African swine fever is a contagious disease affecting pigs and brings devastating damages to the livestock industry. After the first case in Asia found in China in August 2018, the AQS has been strengthening inspections of passenger baggage from affected countries in Asia, and detected infective ASF viruses from pork meat products carried over to Japan in March 2019. Furthermore, the AQS has applied the penalty more stringently than ever before since April 2019 to passengers who bring in illegal animal products into Japan, resulting in arrests of several illegal importers of animal products.

Since South Korea is geographically close to Japan and personal exchanges between the two nations are so active -- almost 1/4 of foreign visitor were Koreans in 2018 -- the ASF in South Korea can increase the risk of ASF intrusions into Japan. Under these circumstances, Japan has decided to tighten its border measures for passengers from South Korea.

If one brings meat products illegally, an imprisonment of up to three years or a fine up to 1 million Japanese yen could be imposed.

Japanese Animal Quarantine Service: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/languages/info.html

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