Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) Thursday announced the suspension of pork, pork products and dairy products import from Taiwan, local media reported.

TV broadcaster Channelnewsasia said the announcement followed an official confirmation of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at two farms in Taiwan's Yun-lin and Chang-Hua, where a total of 677 pigs were slaughtered after the disease was confirmed.

Import of pork and pork related products from Taiwan only accounts for less than one percent of all pork imports, the report said.

The report said three types of products will not be affected by the suspension, namely dairy products made from double pasteurized milk, heat processed pork products that meet the requirements for heat inactivation of the foot-and-mouth disease virus, dairy product with pH less than 6.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2009)