Pingtung County fines pig farm NT$400,000 over kitchen waste feeding

Pingtung County Government said Monday it fined a pig farm NT$400,000 (US$12,500) for feeding ducklings and kitchen waste to pigs in violation of a nationwide ban aimed at preventing African swine fever.

Reporters reported that inspectors discovered the violations during a joint inspection in Jiadong Township. The farm’s owner, a man surnamed Li (李), collected male ducklings and eggs from a duck farm and gathered vegetable leaves and meat scraps from markets to use as feed.

Officials found one bucket of kitchen waste, seven buckets of soybean residue, and two buckets of pineapple peels at the site. Inspectors also discovered a pot of steamed ducklings in a cooking tank, confirming the farm had transported and prepared prohibited animal and kitchen waste feed.

The county government imposed a NT$200,000 fine under the Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases and another NT$200,000 under the Feed Control Act. Authorities implemented the nationwide ban on feeding household and commercial kitchen waste to pigs on Dec. 4, 2025, to reduce the risk of African swine fever transmission.

The county collected blood samples from pigs and meat samples from the waste containers for testing. Test results were negative for African swine fever, and officials disinfected the farm and nearby roads while strengthening biosecurity measures.

Reporters reported that Pingtung County has identified six violations of the kitchen waste ban over the past four months. Authorities have issued NT$6.2 million in total fines as inspections continue to prevent disease outbreaks.