The government will flexibly apply livestock culling and movement restrictions based on the characteristics and risks of infectious diseases. It plans to enhance farmer self-inspections and increase compensation benefits for exemplary farms, shifting the focus of the disease prevention system to proactive measures.
On November 3, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the 'K-Livestock Disease Prevention Improvement Plan' to address new patterns of disease transmission and risk factors. This plan is structured around three main strategies: proactive prevention and field capacity enhancement, improving response effectiveness during outbreaks, and reforming the disease management system.
◆ Expanding Farmer Self-Inspections and Introducing Certification System in 2027
To enhance farmers' self-inspection capabilities, the government will shift from government-led inspections to farmer self-inspections. Farmers will verify their biosecurity status using a checklist, while the government will focus on inspecting farms that have not been checked, randomly selected farms, and high-risk farms.
Smart and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will be introduced in five key biosecurity areas, including farm disinfection, access control, and disease detection. Data from farms, control posts, and disinfection facilities will be linked to the National Livestock Disease Prevention Integrated System (KAHIS) for real-time risk response.
Starting in 2027, a certification system for disease management exemplary farms will be introduced. Clean certified farms and well-managed farms will be selected among egg-laying hens, breeding pig farms, and large-scale pig farms, receiving incentives such as support for biosecurity materials and reduced compensation deductions. Consulting services will be provided to farms with weak biosecurity capabilities.
The scope of biosecurity training will also expand from farm owners to farm managers and employees. A multilingual training program will be offered to foreign workers from entry to farm work. The government will also promote the development of domestic vaccines through public-private partnerships. A foot-and-mouth disease platform vaccine is expected to be commercialized by 2027, along with the development of vaccines and diagnostic methods for highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI). The development of an African swine fever (ASF) vaccine is planned for completion by 2030.
◆ Differentiated Application of Livestock Culling and Movement Restrictions Based on Risk
In the event of an outbreak of livestock infectious diseases, the response will be tailored based on the characteristics and transmission risks of each disease. For foot-and-mouth disease, the government will utilize the cattle traceability system and KAHIS to identify and manage animals that have missed vaccination. Pre-vaccination and vaccine stockpiling will be implemented in high-risk areas in anticipation of the new SAT1 strain emerging from neighboring countries. The goal is to secure 32 million doses of the SAT1 vaccine by 2027, with 10 million doses stockpiled by the end of this year.
For ASF, the government will focus on managing key transmission risk factors such as wild boars, illegal livestock distribution, and plasma protein feed. For highly pathogenic AI, a pre-registration system for personnel and vehicles will be introduced at egg-laying farms, which have historically experienced high outbreaks, along with tailored biosecurity programs for densely populated areas. Vaccination will be administered to high-risk farms for lumpy skin disease, and emergency pest control will be conducted through specialized companies.
Culling and movement restriction measures will also be applied flexibly based on risk levels. If foot-and-mouth disease occurs in a farm that has been vaccinated and shows no clinical symptoms, partial culling may be permitted. Farms that received pigs from an ASF-affected farm will undergo precise inspections and risk assessments to potentially defer culling. Movement restrictions and temporary movement cessation orders will be applied according to the outbreak area, livestock type, and risk level.
◆ Increasing Compensation Cap to 90% and Reforming Disease Management System
The criteria for compensation payments to farmers will also be improved. The maximum compensation for livestock infectious diseases will be raised from 80% to 90%, with farms that report outbreaks first in their regions eligible for up to 100%. The reduction rate for compensation for exemplary farms will be expanded from 10% to 15%. These changes will be reflected in the revised Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act, which is set to take effect in April 2027.
To address the shortage of biosecurity personnel, collaboration with private veterinarians will be expanded. Livestock disease prevention officers will focus on specialized tasks such as diagnosis, surveillance, and response to new infectious diseases, while farm inspections, vaccinations, and disinfections will be shared with the private sector. The authority to appoint public veterinarians will be expanded from local to provincial levels, and retired veterinary public officials will also be utilized.
Additionally, the existing livestock infectious disease prevention law, which has focused on post-outbreak responses, will be completely restructured to emphasize proactive prevention and risk management. The current classification system for livestock infectious diseases, divided into categories 1, 2, and 3, will be revised to focus on emergency management, key management, and routine management based on risk levels. A registration and evaluation system for private biosecurity industries, such as livestock waste disposal and biosecurity consulting, will also be established.
Lee Sang-woo, director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Biosecurity Policy Bureau, stated, "This plan will enhance the proactive prevention capabilities of relevant agencies and farmers, addressing gaps in biosecurity to effectively respond to the changing disease prevention environment. We will strive for the economic stability of livestock farmers and the stable supply of livestock products."
On November 3, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the 'K-Livestock Disease Prevention Improvement Plan' to address new patterns of disease transmission and risk factors. This plan is structured around three main strategies: proactive prevention and field capacity enhancement, improving response effectiveness during outbreaks, and reforming the disease management system.
◆ Expanding Farmer Self-Inspections and Introducing Certification System in 2027
To enhance farmers' self-inspection capabilities, the government will shift from government-led inspections to farmer self-inspections. Farmers will verify their biosecurity status using a checklist, while the government will focus on inspecting farms that have not been checked, randomly selected farms, and high-risk farms.
Smart and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will be introduced in five key biosecurity areas, including farm disinfection, access control, and disease detection. Data from farms, control posts, and disinfection facilities will be linked to the National Livestock Disease Prevention Integrated System (KAHIS) for real-time risk response.
Starting in 2027, a certification system for disease management exemplary farms will be introduced. Clean certified farms and well-managed farms will be selected among egg-laying hens, breeding pig farms, and large-scale pig farms, receiving incentives such as support for biosecurity materials and reduced compensation deductions. Consulting services will be provided to farms with weak biosecurity capabilities.
The scope of biosecurity training will also expand from farm owners to farm managers and employees. A multilingual training program will be offered to foreign workers from entry to farm work. The government will also promote the development of domestic vaccines through public-private partnerships. A foot-and-mouth disease platform vaccine is expected to be commercialized by 2027, along with the development of vaccines and diagnostic methods for highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI). The development of an African swine fever (ASF) vaccine is planned for completion by 2030.
◆ Differentiated Application of Livestock Culling and Movement Restrictions Based on Risk
In the event of an outbreak of livestock infectious diseases, the response will be tailored based on the characteristics and transmission risks of each disease. For foot-and-mouth disease, the government will utilize the cattle traceability system and KAHIS to identify and manage animals that have missed vaccination. Pre-vaccination and vaccine stockpiling will be implemented in high-risk areas in anticipation of the new SAT1 strain emerging from neighboring countries. The goal is to secure 32 million doses of the SAT1 vaccine by 2027, with 10 million doses stockpiled by the end of this year.
For ASF, the government will focus on managing key transmission risk factors such as wild boars, illegal livestock distribution, and plasma protein feed. For highly pathogenic AI, a pre-registration system for personnel and vehicles will be introduced at egg-laying farms, which have historically experienced high outbreaks, along with tailored biosecurity programs for densely populated areas. Vaccination will be administered to high-risk farms for lumpy skin disease, and emergency pest control will be conducted through specialized companies.
Culling and movement restriction measures will also be applied flexibly based on risk levels. If foot-and-mouth disease occurs in a farm that has been vaccinated and shows no clinical symptoms, partial culling may be permitted. Farms that received pigs from an ASF-affected farm will undergo precise inspections and risk assessments to potentially defer culling. Movement restrictions and temporary movement cessation orders will be applied according to the outbreak area, livestock type, and risk level.
◆ Increasing Compensation Cap to 90% and Reforming Disease Management System
The criteria for compensation payments to farmers will also be improved. The maximum compensation for livestock infectious diseases will be raised from 80% to 90%, with farms that report outbreaks first in their regions eligible for up to 100%. The reduction rate for compensation for exemplary farms will be expanded from 10% to 15%. These changes will be reflected in the revised Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act, which is set to take effect in April 2027.
To address the shortage of biosecurity personnel, collaboration with private veterinarians will be expanded. Livestock disease prevention officers will focus on specialized tasks such as diagnosis, surveillance, and response to new infectious diseases, while farm inspections, vaccinations, and disinfections will be shared with the private sector. The authority to appoint public veterinarians will be expanded from local to provincial levels, and retired veterinary public officials will also be utilized.
Additionally, the existing livestock infectious disease prevention law, which has focused on post-outbreak responses, will be completely restructured to emphasize proactive prevention and risk management. The current classification system for livestock infectious diseases, divided into categories 1, 2, and 3, will be revised to focus on emergency management, key management, and routine management based on risk levels. A registration and evaluation system for private biosecurity industries, such as livestock waste disposal and biosecurity consulting, will also be established.
Lee Sang-woo, director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Biosecurity Policy Bureau, stated, "This plan will enhance the proactive prevention capabilities of relevant agencies and farmers, addressing gaps in biosecurity to effectively respond to the changing disease prevention environment. We will strive for the economic stability of livestock farmers and the stable supply of livestock products."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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