Chua: Many farmers may be using beta-agonist in pig feed

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Eat less pork as many pig farmers are suspected of using the banned drug beta-agonist in their pig feed.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek urged consumers to be patient until the authorities complete their checks on pig farmers and pork sellers.
Beta agonist is used to force pigs to mature faster with a higher amount of lean meat, but it can cause palpitation, headaches and even death, especially in heart patients.
“The demand in Selangor is 3,500 pigs a day, half of which are slaughtered in illegal slaughter houses,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
He said farmers were suspected of feeding pigs with beta-agonist for speedy growth to cash in on the high pork prices.
He had earlier met with Federation of Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia representatives, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar and state executive councillors at Parliament House.
Dr Chua said farmers would now be required to sign an undertaking in front of a commissioner for oaths when they wanted to renew their annual licence that their livestock would not be fed beta-agonist.
“If the authorities find beta-agonist in the pigs, the farmer will first be given a stern warning,” he added.
“But if the farmer repeats the offence, his pigs will be quarantined for a month so that they are not sold, exported or slaughtered illegally. If the farmer commits the offence for the third time, his farm will be closed.”
He also said pork sellers would be required to produce the invoice from their supplier or farmers to ensure that they did not buy from those who used beta-agonist.
“If the seller fails to do so, he will be fined RM100,000 and jailed five years,” he said.
Dr Chua said he would work with the Housing and Local Government Ministry to identify illegal slaughterhouses.
“We will conduct raids and random checks on farmers and pork sellers,” he added.
Food Safety and Quality Division director Dr Abd Rahim Mohamad, who was present, said farmers using beta-agonist had three weeks from now to get rid of the drug before enforcement began.
Dr Chua also said animal feed containing beta-agonist would be listed under restricted orders. This means the feed can be inspected.
Chua said that the ministry had not found any pharmacist selling beta-agonist.
“The beta-agonist used are likely to be smuggled in from neighbouring countries.”