Nagaland Government partially lifts ban on import of pigs to state

The Government of Nagaland on Wednesday issued a notification to partially lift ban on import og pigs to the state. with the implementation of this notification healthy and certified pigs from Punjab and Haryana can be imported to Nagaland, however pigs from the states having cases of African Swine Fever are still not allowed to be imported in the state. Nagaland Government banned import of pigs from other states on 28th April this year after outbreak of African Swine Fever in neighboring states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Government of India wrote a letter in the month of July 2020, to lift the restriction keeping in view the economic importance and demands of the farmers & market to ensure food supply. The Ministry emphasized on lifting the restriction without compromising bio-security and bio-safety, and due to the fact that there are no cases of African Swine Fever in the State of Nagaland.

The following SOPs laid down for licence holders/transporters indicated below should be strictly adhered to:

• The transit animals are not disembarked in any place for any purpose within Assam.
• The vehicles do not have any stop over points within Assam unless it is of utmost necessity.
• No animal waste or animal carcass is thrown out of the vehicles of the transit route.
• Transit vehicles travelling through infected areas of ASF are to be disinfected at the exit point of the infected zone and the exit of the surveillance zone and the disinfection related costs will have to be borne by the transporter or the supplier.
• Violation of the above mentioned SOPs shall lead to confiscation of the animals with fines as determined by the confiscating authority.
• Record of each animal, animal transporter with license number and vehicle number, name of consignee, address of consignee is to be kept, at each inter- district checkposts and will be forwarded to the directorate of AH & veterinary Department Assam.
• The transporters/license holder should report to the respective CVOs with details.