Assam revises SOP for live pig transportation; no railway ride

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The Government of Assam has issued a fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the transportation of live pigs to and through the state in light of the ongoing threat of African Swine Fever (ASF). An important feature of the new SOP is that transportation of pigs by railways has been suspended immediately.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly infectious haemorrhagic viral disease of pigs with 100% mortality, and the occurrence of the same in the state of Assam since May 2020 has devastated the piggery industry in the state. Incidences of the ASF have been alarmingly rising in the state of late, in view of which, transportation of live pigs by railways to and through the state of Assam has been banned by the state Animal Husbandry & Veterinary (A.H. & Veterinary) Department with effect from June 27 and until further orders to prevent further spread of the disease.

The new directive, issued by the A.H. & Veterinary Department, supersedes earlier notifications and aims to curb the spread of the deadly viral disease that has been detected in swine samples across multiple states, including Assam.

The new SOP reviews the earlier SOP mandating checks at entry and exit points in the state on transportation of live pigs from outside Assam to and through Assam in view of the partial ban earlier imposed by the Government of Assam on transportation of live pigs and also in view of the present situation arising out of the presence of the ASF virus in order to prevent, control and eradicate the scheduled disease in the state of Assam.

Some of the key provisions of the SOP include Controlled Entry Points: Live pigs, including breeding stock, may only be transported via road from ASF-free states or abroad through the Srirampur Inter-State Check Post in Kokrajhar district. Entry through Boxirhat in Dhubri district is strictly prohibited, and violators will face penalties. Transport of live pigs within Assam - both intra-district and inter-district - is permitted under strict biosecurity conditions to support local farmers. The ban on pigs imported for consumption from other states and abroad remains in force until further notice.

As for breeding stock, farmers must apply to the Director, A.H. & Veterinary Department, Assam, for transporting breeding stock. Documentation such as Aadhar, farm verification, and GPS-tagged photographs is mandatory. A single consignment cannot exceed 200 piglets.

Each pig consignment must have a health certificate issued within seven days prior to shipment by a government veterinary officer, detailing tagging, vaccination, health status, and origin. As per Rule 96 of the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, a transit certificate from an authorized veterinary officer at the origin is compulsory.

Consignments will be screened at the Srirampur check post. A record of each animal, animal transporter with license number, name of consignee, and address of consignee is to be kept at each interstate check post and has to be forwarded to the Director of A.H. & Veterinary Department, Assam.

Authorities may enforce quarantine and sample testing at the transporter's expense. If ASF is detected, the entire consignment will be culled with no compensation, as per the protocol of the National Action Plan. The cost of culling, disposal of carcasses and sanitisation shall be borne by the transporter.

It is also mandated that there will be no en route offloading; pigs transported through Assam for other northeastern states must not be disembarked within Assam territory. Disposal of animal waste or carcasses along the transit route is strictly prohibited.

Moreover, all vehicles must be sanitized at Assam's borders upon entry and exit. At any point during the route through Assam, the local A.H. & Veterinary authority may verify that the consignment is free from ASF.

The SOP also allows for heavy penalties for violations; a fine of Rs 2,000 per pig or Rs 3 lakh per vehicle, whichever is higher, shall be collected from the transporter/consignor/consignee by police officials with proper documentary proof of such penalty receipt and deposited in the Govt. exchequer's account. Repeat violators face double penalties, blacklisting for five years, and criminal prosecution under applicable animal welfare laws.

In cases of SOP violations and non-payment of fines, consignments will be confiscated. Depending on test results, pigs will either be auctioned or culled without compensation.

The notification emphasises the state's zero-tolerance policy toward biosecurity breaches and aims to protect Assam's pig-rearing community and economy from further outbreaks. The SOP will be subject to revision based on the evolving ASF situation.

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