DAPH bans transport, slaughter and sale of pork:
Safe to eat pork, no risk to human health:
The Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) has ordered smallholder pig farmers across Sri Lanka to suspend pig farming and refrain from restocking herds due to the escalating outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) that has now spread across multiple regions of the country.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease with an almost 100 percent fatality rate among infected pigs. The authorities fear that the virus could devastate the number of pigs in the country, particularly among small-scale and backyard farmers who form the backbone of the domestic pork industry.
Outbreaks
“These outbreaks have now become multi-regional, making them harder to trace and contain,” said Acting Director of the DAPH’s Veterinary Regulatory Affairs Division, Dr H.P.V.D.S. Bandara.
The department has issued a Gazette Extraordinary banning the transport of pigs until September 12 to contain the spread. The restriction may be extended or lifted gradually, depending on the outcome of disease surveillance, Dr. Bandara said.
Further measures include a prohibition on the sale and slaughter of pigs and pork products in the affected areas. The Western coastal belt — often referred to as Sri Lanka’s ‘pig belt’ — has been especially hard-hit. Districts such as Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam, as well as parts of the North Western and North Central Provinces, have reported significant outbreaks. According to DAPH sources, over 60,000 pigs and wild boar have already been affected.
When asked whether culling was being used to control the outbreak, Dr. Bandara said, “No,” adding, “Culling is out of the question, as the pigs infected with the virus die on their own.”
Experts said that the impact on livelihoods could be severe. “Many small-scale or backyard farmers may lose their entire livelihood due to the outbreak,” Dr. Bandara said.
These farms, often operating without registration or formal bio-security protocols, are particularly vulnerable.
A major challenge in responding to the crisis is the lack of reliable data. DAPH officials said that most pig farmers in the country remain unregistered, making disease tracking and response coordination difficult. Although the number of pigs is unofficially estimated at between 80,000 and 100,000, there is no central registry. “The lack of a registration system severely hampers disease surveillance,” Dr. Bandara said.
He said that unregistered farmers are not eligible for Government compensation. “Pig farming is not carried out in a big way in Sri Lanka, and there has never been a mechanism for compensating losses in such cases.”
Feeding practices have also come under scrutiny. The widespread use of swill feed — food waste fed to pigs — has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the spread of the disease. Combined with low bio-security standards and informal trade practices, this has increased the risk of rapid transmission across farming communities.
Despite the economic losses, the authorities said the ASF poses no risk to human health.
“There is zero impact on human life from consuming pork, even during an ASF outbreak,” Dr. Bandara said.
Misinformation
However, they said that public fear and misinformation could lead people to avoid eating pork unnecessarily, causing further economic harm to farmers and suppliers.
Officials also raised concerns about the improper disposal of infected carcasses, which could lead to environmental contamination, including water sources. Proper carcass management and biosecurity enforcement were now critical priorities, they said.
Nevertheless, the authorities have called upon farmers not to resume pig farming unless they are able to adhere to strict bio-security protocols.
“Some pig farmers have been asking whether they can restock, but we have advised them not to — unless they meet all the safety conditions,” Dr. Bandara said.
