Expansion of Avian Influenza Prevention... Special Tax Support of 1.98 Billion Won for Farm Checkpoints

Utilized for Additional Guard Posts to Control Entry of People and Vehicles on the Farm

Disinfection officials are entering a poultry farm in Sejong City.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will urgently provide a special grant of 1.9 billion KRW to prevent the further spread of avian influenza (AI).

On the 20th, the Ministry announced that due to the increased frequency of AI outbreaks in laying hen and duck farms, it will urgently support a special grant of 1.98 billion KRW needed to operate additional farm checkpoints.

The special grant will be used to expand farm checkpoints to control vehicles and people entering the farms. Priority will be given to installing necessary farm checkpoints for biosecurity at laying hen farms, which are directly linked to egg supply. The additional farm checkpoints to be installed were selected considering the region's vulnerability to infection and the scale of livestock farming.

Due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), the price of a carton of eggs has surpassed 6,000 won. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 11th, the retail price of a carton of eggs was recorded at 6,082 won as of the 8th. As the spread of AI shows no signs of slowing, concerns are rising that the prices of chicken and eggs, which affect meal costs, may increase further. On this day, citizens are seen examining eggs at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The amount of special grant support by region is ▲ Gyeongnam 940 million KRW ▲ Gyeonggi 460 million KRW ▲ Gangwon 320 million KRW ▲ Jeonbuk 160 million KRW ▲ Sejong 100 million KRW.

Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Interior and Safety, stated, "To block further AI outbreaks, it is necessary to operate farm checkpoints appropriately," and urged, "Local governments should establish biosecurity systems suited to their regional conditions and do their best to bring an early end to AI."