BANGKOK, Nov 20 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives through its Department of Livestock Development plans to include the Ebola virus disease in the Animal Epidemics Ac BE 2499 to improve control on the disease that animals may carry.
Chavalit Chookajorn, ministry permanent secretary, said that a deputy prime minister agreed with the planned amendment and approved the ministry’s bid to seek cabinet approval.
Afterward the amendment will go to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation.
Mr Chavalit said that the amendment would take effect in four months.
Pending the amendment, he said the Department of Livestock Development required operators to always seek its permission for every importation of live animals and animal carcasses.
At present, the department blocks the import and transit of all products controlled by the Animal Epidemics Act except those from South Africa.
Department officials are watching out for attempts to smuggle animals and carcasses at border checkpoints, sanitizing vehicles crossing the border and checking passengers and luggage from countries facing or risking the Ebola epidemics.
