Sri Lanka eases animal transport restrictions amid African swine fever battle

SRI LANKA – Sri Lanka has relaxed some of its stringent measures against African swine fever (ASF), allowing for the conditional transport of healthy animals as the country combats an outbreak that has devastated pig populations. 

The Department of Animal Production and Health announced that a new Gazette notification, effective from November 4, grants permission for the controlled movement of non-infected animals under veterinary supervision.

Dr Hemali Kothalawala, the department’s Director General, explained the decision to ease restrictions, saying, “Based on the current situation in the field, there has been a slight decrease in the spread of the disease this week, and it’s essential to protect the industry.”

The new directive, she elaborated, allows non-infected animals to be transported with a veterinarian-issued health report. 

“Previously, animal transportation was prohibited, but under the new Gazette, non-infected animals may now be transported,” she added. 

The Gazette stipulates that slaughterhouses and meat refrigeration facilities must now be registered, and only those certified by authorised officers within the provincial Department of Animal Production and Health are allowed to process and sell pork. 

This includes meat sales to restaurants, provided the animals have been confirmed disease-free.

However, the ASF outbreak has already taken a significant toll. The Western Province’s Department of Animal Production and Health reports that around 50% of pigs in the province have succumbed to ASF, with Gampaha District recording the highest number of fatalities. 

Though not a threat to human health, ASF causes severe economic losses due to its high mortality rate among pigs, with symptoms such as high fever, skin lesions, and sudden death in extreme cases. 

As Sri Lanka takes steps to control ASF, regional outbreaks in countries like the Philippines have led to further policy adjustments to curb the disease’s spread. 

In the Philippines, authorities extended reduced tariffs on imported pork until the end of 2024 and continue to enforce the National Zoning and Movement Plan, which governs pig movement based on ASF risk levels. 

A new policy reduces the mandatory culling radius to 500 meters around ASF cases, and the government plans to distribute 600,000 doses of ASF vaccine by the year’s end, the first country to deploy a vaccine for ASF.

ASF remains highly contagious, spreading through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated equipment, and feed. 

Without a cure or World Organisation for Animal Health-approved vaccine, experts, including Dr Sisira Piyasiri of Sri Lanka’s State Veterinary Surgeons’ Association, stress prevention as the primary line of defence. 

By enforcing strict biosecurity and enhancing monitoring measures, countries are aiming to balance disease control with the protection of their pork industries.

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