Qurbani animal availability in East Java safe, governor assures

She explained that despite the current outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that has affected livestock, there are still many Qurbani animal sales centers and farms in the province whose animals are still healthy and safe to be used for the Islamic ritual of Qurbani.

"To district heads, mayors, please convey to residents to reduce their anxiousness; the stock of Qurbani animals is safe," Parawansa said after inspecting a Qurbani animal sales center in Nganjuk District, East Java, on Monday.

She reminded regional heads to ensure Qurbani animal sales centers in their respective region are safe and healthy amid the FMD outbreak.

Parawansa reviewed several Qurbani animal sales centers in East Java, for example, in Babatan Village, Pace Subdistrict, Nganjuk District. The village has 400 healthy heads of cattle and 500 healthy goats.

She expressed the hope that her visit to the farms or places where Qurbani animals are sold in East Java would convince people and reduce their anxiousness regarding the availability of safe and healthy animals for Qurbani.

The governor has also issued Circular (SE) of the Governor of East Java Number 524/6359/122.3/2022 concerning the Control and Management of the Foot and Mouth Disease in Livestock in East Java.

The circular states that animals must be transported between regions after obtaining an animal health certificate issued by an authorized official. The local veterinary authority has been assigned the task of verifying whether the animals are healthy and safe to be transported.

Then, the traffic of animals suspected of having FMD is being regulated based on an area's status. There are four statuses: free area, suspected area, infected area, and outbreak area.

In addition, the governor's circular also stipulates that the slaughter of Qurbani animals must be carried out at designated slaughterhouses or places recommended by the veterinary authority of the respective district/city government.