Biosecurity Breaches - Credit MAFRA
#18,527
South Korea has been dealing with HPAI H5 for more than 20 years and their Ministry of Agriculture (MAFRA) has a reputation of aggressively dealing with outbreaks.
Farmers are compensated for their losses, but in return, they are expected to strictly follow containment and biosecurity procedures.
Over the past 2 months South Korea has reported 19 poultry outbreaks due to HPAI H5, and two dozen wild bird detections, with many more expected.
Today MAFRA has issued a scathing report finding that of the 15 poultry farms investigated since October, the vast majority have failed to comply with those procedures, and that strong punitive action will be taken.
From the report's summary:
Choi Jeong-rok, Director of the Quarantine Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said , “ As a result of the epidemiological investigation into poultry farms where highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred this winter , it was confirmed that most farms were not properly following basic quarantine rules.
Therefore , each local government should strictly punish those who violate related regulations and provide repeated education and inspections so that farms can manage quarantine on their farms with a sense of alertness . ”
In addition , he emphasized , “ In order to prevent further outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, it is most important for poultry farms to have the mindset of ‘ I protect my own farm ’ and to follow basic quarantine rules such as disinfection and changing boots, so please thoroughly follow these . ”
Lastly , he requested , “ All relevant ministries, local governments, and livestock farms should cooperate and do their best in quarantine management so that damage from highly pathogenic avian influenza can be minimized . ”
Among the sanctions, there appears to be an across the board 20% reduction in the compensation that will be paid going forward, and a series of other reductions will be assessed if deficits in biosecurity are found.
I've only posted some excerpts from MAFRA's unusually strongly worded press release.
(Translation)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak farms will receive a significant reduction in culling compensation2025.01.05 11:00:00 Avian Influenza Prevention Division, Quarantine Policy Bureau
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ( Director Song Mei-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs , hereinafter referred to as the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters ) announced that the epidemiological investigation of poultry farms where highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred this winter revealed numerous deficiencies , and that with a large number of winter migratory birds arriving across the country , there is a high possibility of additional outbreaks in the future .
(SNIP)
2. Results of epidemiological investigation of the outbreak farm
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has confirmed numerous deficiencies in the epidemiological investigation of 15 poultry farms where outbreaks have occurred so far, including failure to disinfect people and vehicles entering and exiting the farms , failure to wear farm-specific shoes , damage to wild animal prevention nets , and failure to install anterooms and fences. In accordance with the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act , strict measures will be taken against farms that violate related regulations, including administrative dispositions such as fines and reductions in compensation for culling .
3. Results of the evaluation of compensation for culling the farm where the outbreak occurred
In the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a poultry farm , the compensation amount equivalent to 20/100 of the livestock evaluation amount will be reduced in principle in accordance with the “ Payment and Reduction Standards for Compensation Pursuant to the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act , ” and if any quarantine deficiencies are confirmed , the compensation amount will be strictly reduced for each applicable item .
Based on the results of the epidemiological investigation of farms affected by this winter season, the criteria for reducing compensation for culling by major quarantine deficiencies are as follows .
(Continue . . . )
It appears that some farmers may be paid less than 50% of what they expected to get for their losses, and in addition fines of up to 5 million Won ($3400) may be levied.
