2.How safe is MY pig?Pl read--
'Adequate laws to
prosecute pig farmers',PETALING JAYA (Jan 17,
2007):
Veterinary Services Department (VSD) director-general Datuk
Abdul Aziz Jamaludin says pig farmers who dishonour the "Aku Janji"
oath will be brought to court.
"There's no need for new laws to prosecute errant pig farmers. If
they feed pigs with beta-agonist, a banned growth enhancer, the
court will decide on the penalty under the Penal Code," he
added.
Abdul Aziz said state governments can also use their state
enactment to punish the culprits, including closing down their
farms.
He said VSD enforcement teams are still conducting checks and
collecting samplings on pig farms in the country. "If they are
found using beta-agonist, the farms will be quarantined."
"Farms found free from the use of beta-agonist, we will continue to
conduct tests. We will not tell them that they are clear," he
added.
Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mah Siew
Keong said it was now mandatory for pig farmers to sign the "Aku
Janji" oath for renewal of farming licence.
"This will enable us to take legal action when they break the
oath," said Mah.
Meanwhile, Federation of Livestock Farmers' Associations of
Malaysia pig unit chairman Tung Hong Chai said: "We support the
government's oath signing requirement for pig farming
licence.
"Although most pig farmers had agreed to sign the oath, they were
advised to seek legal advice from their lawyers.
"If pig farmers have stopped using the growth enhancer, there is no
harm in signing the oath," he said.
Tung said the VSD should reconduct tests on pig farms, found using
beta-agonist and quarantined for a month, again so the farmers can
resume their operations and business.
However, an industry source said the many loopholes in the various
Acts governing the use of the growth enhancer had been exploited
and "is now the source of problems" as the control of drugs in
animals is under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry.
The loopholes in the Poison Act:
* beta-agonist has been classified as Group A poison for animal
feed since 1991, but no action has been done to ensure it is not
used;
* the Act allows drugs to be sold to farmers directly and they do
not need to seek any veterinary advice from veterinarians or
prescription;
* no requirement for pharmacists to declare what is in the product
when they sell it to the customers. Most packages can even have no
labels or can be sold in plastic pails, bags or drums with minimal
labelling; and
* the Act also allows complete exemption on import and sale without
restriction of all veterinary feeding supplements, which means if
an importer falsely declares the growth enhancer as importing
veterinary feeding supplements - there is no need for him to have a
poison licence.
He said although the Sale of Drugs Act accepts the registration of
veterinary medicines, to date there is no veterinary drug
registered.
He said any drug in any label, without the quality check or control
in any way can be imported if it is declared as veterinary
drug.
He said the VSD through its primary legislation, the Animal Act,
has no authority on producers on the use of drugs.
"Why is the Health Ministry pushing the problem to the Agriculture
Ministry as the Act has no authority on producers on the use of
drugs," he added.
He said the VSD provided veterinary inspections at government and
privatised abattoirs but once the meat leaves the abattoirs, "it
falls under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry's Food
Act".
He said it was ironic that the (health) minister now wants to
identify the root causes of the problems afflicting pig farmers
when the puzzling problems had been looming since 1991 when
beta-agonist was banned.
---http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=16704
2.Indo Pig breed by SG
I remember news reported that SG has a pigsty in Indo.
The management initially dunt welcome reporters for
they afraid virus will be brought inside.
No new pigs is allowed into the farm.Only OUT,No in.
They guard the farm like secret military base!!
