"Stop Foot-and-Mouth Disease"… Four-Month Movement Restrictions on Cattle and Pig Manure Starting November

Divided into 9 Regions by City and Province Nationwide
Manure Transport Vehicles Allowed Only Within Their Movement Regions

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 28th that it will restrict the long-distance movement of cattle and pig manure from the 1st of next month until the end of February next year, a period when foot-and-mouth disease frequently occurs.

Manure transport vehicles for cattle and pigs in nine regions nationwide will not be allowed to move outside their designated regions. These regions include Gyeonggi (Incheon), Gangwon, Gyeongbuk (Daegu), Gyeongnam (Busan, Ulsan), Chungbuk, Chungnam (Daejeon, Sejong), Jeonbuk, Jeonnam (Gwangju), and Jeju.

However, even if the regions differ, movement is permitted if the areas are geographically close or share the same living area, provided a prior inspection confirms no abnormalities. Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk, Chungnam and Chungbuk, and Jeonnam and Jeonbuk are each considered the same living area.

Additionally, when transporting manure that has been composted or liquefied at farms, or finished compost products made by fertilizer manufacturers, movement outside the designated regions is allowed.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has been conducting mass vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease for cattle and goats nationwide since this month. In areas where vaccination has been completed, antibody tests are being conducted on cattle and goats one month after vaccination. Farms that do not meet the antibody positivity rate criteria will be subject to fines.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "Quarantine measures such as restricting manure movement are unavoidable to prevent foot-and-mouth disease," and added, "We ask for the active cooperation of livestock farmers and related industries."