Assam lifted the ban on sale and consumption of pork on Tuesday. The ban on pork sale was imposed on 25th April as pigs were dying in the state to due to the highly contagious African Swine Fever(ASF).
The decision of lifting the ban was taken by consultations with Veterinary experts, informs Atul Bora, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
Eight areas within the state have been identified as epicentre of African Swine Fever(ASF)- Bortamuli Gaon in Biswanath district, Peepol Guri in Dehemaji District, Kotiyori, Bhatgos, Neetaipukhuri, Kheluoi in Sivasagar district, Bormukoli Gaon in Jorhat district, and Gorchuk in Kamrup (Metro).
The tests were conducted at that the National Institute of High Security Animal in Bhopal.
“Apart from the infected zones which have been identified for a radius of 1 km and the surveillance zones of 10 km, pork meat can be sold. There is no ban in districts which does not have any infected zone,” said Bora in a report.
However, inter-district and inter-state buying, selling and transfer of pigs, pork and its products will remain suspended.
Around 16,000 pigs have died since April in the affected districts of the state. Pork happens to be one of the most popular meat sources of the state.
