The revised regulation for hog slaughtering will go into effect on Aug 1, 2021, according to a State Council decree signed by Premier Li Keqiang on June 25.

The regulation will be effectively connected with the Food Safety Law and the Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention, said Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ma Youxiang at a press conference on July 23.

Ma said the revised regulation will enhance full-process management, tighten epidemic prevention and control, and promote solid implementation of responsibilities of hog-slaughtering enterprises.

To ensure quality in hog slaughtering, the regulation established a system for entry checks, quality management, recording of outbound pork products, product recalls, and risk monitoring.

In order to severely crack down on unlawful acts in hog slaughtering, the revised regulation has increased punishment, said Guo Wenfang from the Ministry of Justice.

Guo said the public security authority can detain the people in charge directly responsible and others directly responsible for unlawful acts for more than five days within 15 days. Those who commit a crime will be investigated for criminal responsibilities.

The revision also added an industry prohibition system, Guo added.

Facing the African swine fever epidemic, Ma said, slaughtering sites must have the conditions for disease inspection with veterinarians dispatched by the State.

In addition to strengthened management of hog slaughtering, the formulation and revision of local laws and regulations will be accelerated to standardize the slaughtering management of cattle, sheep and poultry, said Yang Zhenhai from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.