Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said yesterday this would be carried out by his ministry’s pharmaceutical division.

"As we are going all out to ban the use of beta-agonist by pig farmers, it is also important to know whether the imported feed contains the banned growth enhancer," Dr Chua said.

He told reporters this after chairing a meeting with representatives from the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, Customs, Veterinary Services Department, Health Ministry and its pharmaceutical division, Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations Malaysia and the Pork Sellers Association.

"We do not allow beta-agonist to be sold in the market in any form.

"It is being smuggled into the country and we must stop this by not using it in the animal feed," said Dr Chua.

China and India are among the countries exporting pig feed to Malaysia.

At present, 37 pig farms are placed under a one-month quarantine after their animals were found to have high levels of beta-agonist.

This followed a check on 656 farms nationwide.

Source: New Straits Times