Pig farmers agree to sign pledge

Star: PUTRAJAYA: The country’s 656 pig farmers have finally agreed to sign a loyalty pledge, before the Chinese New Year this weekend, not to use illegal substances, including beta agonist, on their livestock said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He also announced that pig feed containing beta agonist was now a banned substance under the Customs Prohibited Order.
Dr Chua made these announcements yesterday after the national beta agonist action committee meeting.
The signing of the pledge has become an issue of contention between the authorities and farmers, with the authorities insisting that the pledge is necessary to facilitate enforcement and legal action. The farmers are unhappy with certain wordings, which they claim are “vague”.
Dr Chua said the farmers agreed not to use three illegal growth enhancers – beta agonist, nitofuran and chloramphenicol.
However, he added, butchers had asked for more time to discuss the matter and would come up with a decision in a months’ time.
“We feel it is necessary for the 120 butchers to also sign the loyalty pledge to further facilitate enforcement and monitoring,” he told a press conference.
On the banning of pig feed containing beta agonist, Dr Chua said samples were taken from 74 feed mills and 62 tested negative.
“This proves that claims by certain farmers that they have no knowledge about the use of the illegal substances because it came from the pig feed are untrue,” he said.
“We have also taken 78 pork samples from restaurants and markets between January and Feb 8, and only two tested positive for illegal substances.”
Dr Chua said the use of illegal substances had reduced significantly due to better enforcement and monitoring by the Health Ministry, Veterinary Services Department and also by the associations.
“We are aware that other farmers, apart from pig farmers, are also using beta agonist to stimulate livestock growth,” he added.
“However, the use of the substances are more prevalent among pig farmers, and we have to stop this.”