[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has recently launched a crackdown on violations by livestock-related transport vehicles following the successive outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in Yongin and other areas.
The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Livelihood announced on the 27th that from the 28th of this month until the end of the avian influenza outbreak, they will focus on cracking down on violations of the Livestock Infectious Disease Control Act targeting transport vehicles entering livestock-related facilities, mainly in Yongin, Pyeongtaek, and Hwaseong, where highly pathogenic avian influenza has occurred.
The main items under inspection include ▲ violations of temporary movement suspension orders ▲ unregistered facility entry vehicles, failure to install (or operate) GPS (Global Positioning System) ▲ failure to visit designated disinfection facilities, etc.
According to the current Livestock Infectious Disease Control Act, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, vehicles entering poultry farms must be registered with local governments and operated with GPS installed. Additionally, during special quarantine periods, livestock vehicles must be disinfected at designated disinfection facilities before visiting poultry farms or livestock facilities. Violations may result in imprisonment for up to one year or fines up to 10 million KRW.
Kim Min-kyung, head of the Special Judicial Police Unit of the province, emphasized, "If unregistered vehicles enter poultry farms or vehicles do not have GPS installed and operated, early response such as epidemiological investigations of avian influenza becomes very difficult," adding, "The Special Judicial Police will also contribute efforts to block the spread of avian influenza."
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