Taiwan has removed Finland from the list of African swine fever (ASF) free countries, after local Finnish authorities announced several wild boar tested positive for the virus one day earlier.

Finland’s food safety authorities announced Thursday that three wild boar in the Virolahti region tested positive for ASF, the first time the virus has been discovered in the country. In response, Taiwan's African Swine Fever Central Emergency Response Center officially removed Finland from the list of ASF-free countries. This means live pigs and pork products shipped or transported through Finland to Taiwan are prohibited, effective immediately, and those violating the rule will be returned or destroyed. 

According to response center statistics, Taiwan imported 985 metric tons of pork from January to June this year. The center urged importers to strictly comply with quarantine regulations to safeguard Taiwan’s ASF-free status. 

Taiwan experienced its first case of ASF last year, and only regained its self-declared ASF-free status this April. Currently, Taiwan is the only country in Asia free from the three major swine diseases: foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, and ASF.

Although Taiwan and Finland do not share direct air routes, there is still a risk of transmission through the mail. The response center urged the public not to bring, mail, or courier pork products to Taiwan from any countries with ASF. Violators will be fined NT$200,000 (about US$6,100) for their first offense and NT$1 million (over US$30,000) for subsequent offenses, with a maximum penalty of NT$3 million (over US$92,000) and seven years imprisonment for courier or freight violations.