JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Pigs reared in Johor are free from beta-agonists.

State Veterinary Department director Datin Paduka Dr Fauziah Embong said it had checked the 49 pig farms and two abattoirs in the state and the results for the banned growth enhancers were negative.

"We are monitoring them closely", she said, adding that the move was taken after a check last week revealed that five farms in Malacca had been using beta-agonists on their pigs.

She said Johor has about 300,000 pigs.

She told reporters at a programme organised by Fama to promote local poultry products at the farmers' market in Larkin here yesterday.

Dr Fauziah said cleanliness and environment at pig farms in Johor had improved tremendously with the implementation of effective micro-organism technology.

She said the state government had made it mandatory for pig farmers to use the technology under the Johor Pig Rearing Enactment. --THE STAR