(Uijeongbu=Yonhap News) Reporter No Seung-hyuk = The Gyeonggi-do Northern Animal Hygiene Testing Institute (hereinafter referred to as the Northern Animal Hygiene Testing Institute) announced on the 6th that it will urgently conduct a "complete pig head examination" to support early delivery ahead of the Lunar New Year. This measure comes in response to the recent outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Pocheon, which has led to movement restrictions on pig-raising farms within the quarantine zone in the Pocheon region. The province explained that as the demand for livestock products surges during this period, preemptive measures have been taken to minimize the economic losses of farms within the quarantine zone and to stabilize consumer prices. Currently, 34 pig farms within a 10km radius of the ASF outbreak farms in Pocheon are unable to deliver due to the movement restrictions. In principle, these farms can deliver from the 8th, 14 days after the outbreak, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has allowed early delivery from the 3rd for farms in the Pocheon quarantine zone that have "reinforced quarantine facilities" to ensure stable supply and demand of livestock products ahead of the Lunar New Year. Farms wishing to deliver must pass the strict clinical and detailed examination by the Northern Animal Hygiene Testing Institute and must also test negative for the entire pig head blood test at the slaughter plant to be allowed to ship. The Northern Animal Hygiene Testing Institute plans to directly intervene on-site to closely support sample collection, etc., for the complete pig head examination of pigs shipped from farms. In conjunction with supporting early delivery, the Northern Animal Hygiene Testing Institute is also implementing an "enhanced hygiene and safety management plan" targeting slaughterhouses and livestock product manufacturers in the province, including testing for antibiotic residues and microorganisms. The director of the Gyeonggi-do Northern Animal Hygiene Testing Institute, Choi Ok-bong, said, "We will focus all our capabilities on ensuring the safe supply of livestock products so that residents can enjoy a happy Lunar New Year holiday." nsh@yna.co.kr