The government will build a farm-by-farm vaccine inoculation history management system to prevent pig-related diseases. It will also expand the introduction of a "disease sign early detection system" that uses information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) at pig farms to analyze behavior patterns such as pig movement and respiratory sounds.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on the 5th it will push a "reinforced quarantine management plan for swine diseases," aiming to achieve classical swine fever (CSF) eradication and minimize the occurrence of porcine endemic diseases (PED, PRRS) by 2030.
According to the ministry, porcine endemic diseases such as porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) occur annually in Korea and cause economic damage of about 500 billion won per year.
The government plans to share farm disease diagnosis and occurrence information with farmers to prevent cross-contamination between farms. To identify the status of farm disease outbreaks, in addition to government-led monitoring tests, it will receive disease test reports that farms have independently obtained from private institutions and map the nationwide status of disease occurrence to provide to livestock farms. To block high-risk routes of disease transmission, it will also introduce environmental virus testing and strengthen washing and disinfection procedures when positives are confirmed.
At the same time, it will build a "vaccine inoculation history management system" to identify the vaccination status by farm, and it will also push the introduction of an AI-based "disease sign early detection system."
There have been no domestic cases of classical swine fever since 2017, and with nationwide pig vaccination and a mandate to carry vaccination certificates, the vaccine antibody positivity rate has exceeded 95%, creating conditions ripe for eradication. The government plans to strengthen the quarantine system with the goal of obtaining classical swine fever disease-free status from an international organization.
First, starting next year, it will fully introduce a new marker vaccine to lay the groundwork for classical swine fever eradication in Korea. It will strengthen the distribution of the new vaccine and precise inspections of farms, and it will distribute bait vaccines mainly in border areas to reduce virus transmission by wild boars.
From 2028 to the first half of 2029, it will review quarantine results and, after deliberation, decide whether to suspend vaccination. If suspension is decided, it will seek to obtain disease-free status certification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
Kim Jeong-uk, director general for agricultural innovation policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "If our country achieves the goals of classical swine fever eradication and minimizing porcine endemic diseases, it will be an opportunity for the swine industry to take a leap forward, including improved farm productivity and securing a foundation for pork exports," and added, "We will work with farmers, experts, and academia to obtain disease-free status for classical swine fever by 2030 through reinforced quarantine management measures for swine diseases and do our best to reduce the occurrence of porcine endemic diseases."