Pig farm breeding chicken ordered to cease operation – DVS

PUTRAJAYA - The Veterinary Services Department (DVS) issues notice to shut down and cease operation of a pig farm in Penang that has been breeding broiler chickens in the same area.

In a statement on Wednesday, DVS said that a compound of RM7,500, a fine of RM30,000, or three years imprisonment subject to the deputy public prosecutor were also issued under the Pig Farming (Penang) Enactment 2016.

This was after the pig farm was found to be in violation of the Pig Farming Licencing Regulations (Penang) 2020, namely Regulation 19 (1), which stated that all other species of animals and poultry should not be allowed to be kept on pig farms.

"The farm in question is registered with DVS but does not have a licence to operate because it does not comply with the regulations under the licencing, which stipulate that all pig farms must upgrade to a closed pen with a zero-discharge system, which means no sewage waste is released into public drains," said the department.

A notice of instruction was also issued to the owner of the farm to vacate the broilers from the pig farm within seven days.

"In an operation that was carried out, DVS also found that live broiler chickens reared on the farm were not sent to any slaughterhouse, were only sold in non-Muslim markets, and did not involve sales to other locations," said DVS.

The department said that to make sure that this does not happen again, all pig farms would be inspected in a timely manner to ensure that no animals or poultry were bred for commercial purposes on these farms.

"DVS will also issue a reminder letter to all operators of pig farms to comply with the relevant livestock licencing regulations," he explained.

Meanwhile, DVS requested that the spread of the viral video be stopped in order to avoid causing anxiety among the public.

Last Sunday, a 23-second video went viral showing a row of chicken coops placed close to pig pens in that location.