Pig farms found using illegal vaccines will be punished under China’s intensified efforts to arrest its African swine fever crisis.
Bloomberg reported that homemade, experimental and imported vaccines against the pig-killing virus are prohibited, and risk untold biosafety hazards for the world’s largest pork industry.
Yang Zhenhai, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ animal husbandry bureau, said: “Farms that use these vaccines won’t be able to effectively prevent the disease and they could spread it further — something we take seriously,”
Mr Yang said the ministry will punish those who use, produce or sell these products, he said. Those found guilty may be liable for fines of as much as 200,000 yuan (£21,781).
A ministry hotline for citizens to report outbreak “irregularities” will offer cash rewards of 30,000 yuan (£3,267).