Japan to raise fines for smuggling pork to contain ASF

February 6, 2020

Tokyo--The Japanese agriculture ministry has decided to raise fines for smuggling pork products, as part of efforts to prevent African swine fever from entering the country.

The maximum fine for individuals will be tripled to 3 million yen, the ministry said Wednesday. Penalties for corporations will be raised to up to 50 million yen, 50 times the current level.

The measure will be stipulated in a bill to revise the law on controlling domestic animal infectious diseases. The ministry plans to submit the bill to the ongoing regular session of the Diet, the country's parliament.

The bill also calls for allowing animal quarantine officers at airports and ports to check and dispose of baggage without owners' consents.

In the country, the revised law on controlling domestic animal infectious diseases, which allows preventive culling of healthy pigs in case ASF infections are confirmed in nearby areas, was put in to effect on Wednesday.

Agriculture ministry guidelines for preventing the spread of ASF have also been revised to specify the extent of area to be subject to the preventive culling. Jiji Press