Commerce Ministry Begins Disposal of Contaminated Pig Feet

Commerce Ministry Begins Disposal of Contaminated Pig Feet

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, over the weekend began official disposal of the contaminated consignment of pig feet that was brought into Liberia in December 2018.

The 2,745 barrels of the contaminated pig meat were brought in by Cheiatou Brothers Incorporated and stored at its Senyon Town facilities on the Bushrod Island.

During the disposal process that began on Friday, March 29, 2019, a total of 1,485 barrels of the contaminated pig feet were disposed of at the Wein Town dump site, behind the FDA Community in Paynesville.

Some of the contaminated pig feet already dumped

The exercise began with relevant line ministries and agencies of government and the media converging at the Senyon Town facilities of Cheiatou Brothers Incorporated, to witness the process before the contaminated pig feet were escorted to the disposal site.

In line with efforts to ensure transparency, each barrel of the contaminated pig meat was opened publically, with the items placed in a large plastic bag and sealed up before subsequently being placed in the truck to be dispatched for disposal.

It can be recalled that in December 2018, the European Union issued an alert to the Liberian government, through the Ministry of Health that a consignment of then contaminated pig feet from a slaughter house in Europe was being imported into several countries, including Liberia. The EU, at the time said its surveillance   showed that the supply was contaminated with Salmonella Poison.

Upon the issuance of the world wide alert by the European Union,  the Liberian government, through the Ministries of Health and Commerce and Industry, along with other line authorities moved in and quarantined the pig meat in order to prevent any health hazard.

Samples of the supply were taken to   the National Standards Laboratory at the Ministry yard in Monrovia for testing.

The test result, released on January 30, 2019 and   validated through an international peer review process proved that the consignment of pig feet contained Salmonella Poison.

During the disposal exercise over the weekend, Commerce Inspector General, Madam Josephine Davies, reiterated the Liberian government’s commitment to protecting consumer interest through fair and healthy practices in the business sector.

The disposal exercise is expected to be concluded on Monday, April 1, 2019.

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