Malaysian pork sellers claim pigs still fed banned growth drug: report

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia IHT Malaysian pork sellers alleged that a high number of locally raised pigs are fed a banned drug to enhance their growth and urged authorities to clamp down on pig farmers, reports said Friday. Malaysian Pork Sellers Association chairman Goh Chui Lai was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times that pork sellers have been treated as scapegoats for farmers who use sabultamol, a banned form of beta-agonist. At least 20 pork sellers nationwide have been fined for selling meat found to contain sabultamol over the past two years but no farmer has yet faced legal action, he said. "The government is punishing the wrong people. We buy pork from farmers who are the ones who feed the animals. But why are we being punished when we are just selling the meat?" Goh was quoted as saying. The Federation of Livestock Farmers' Association of Malaysia, which represents more than 600 pig slaughterhouses nationwide, claimed most farmers have been using another type of beta-agonist, Paylean, since sabultamol was banned several years ago.
Federation secretary Sim Ah Hock was quoted as saying that pork found to contain the banned drug could have come from illegal pig farms and urged pork sellers to check their sources of supply. Pigs given beta-agonist grow faster and can be slaughtered 20 days earlier than the usual 26 weeks and produce leaner meat, making it more marketable. Consumers who eat pork tainted with sabultamol could get headaches, dizziness, palpitations and breathing difficulties, the New Straits Times said. It can be fatal for those suffering from asthma and heart disease, it said. The Star newspaper said the Agriculture Ministry had issued warning letters to 83 pig suppliers and blacklisted nine others in the past three months over the use of the banned drug, which is cheaper than Paylean. It quoted Health Minister Chua Soi Lek as saying the government would strengthen enforcement, which has been weak due to religious obstacles. Chua urged authorities to raid pharmacies that import and supply the drug.
Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.