THE British Pig Association is warning all producers and processors to
be on their guard against attempts to bring live pigs for finishing or
slaughter into Britain.
This trade can officially begin as the European ''marketplace'' opens
up, and the association is ''extremely concerned'' that live pigs could
introduce disease, causing damage to the UK pig industry.
Grenville Welsh, the association's chief executive, stated yesterday:
''The UK pig herd has an enviable high health status and this could be
jeopardised by importing pigs from other member States where health
standards are lower.
''EC legislation under the single market Act removes the right of
recipient countries from conducting essential routine health checks on
imported stock.''
He claimed that the recent outbreak of Swine Vesicular Disease in the
Netherlands, with associated cases elsewhere in Europe, had emphasised
the danger. Aujeszky's Disease was another potential risk area, despite
additional safeguards gained by British negotiators.
The UK industry's exports of breeding stock to all corners of the
world could suffer if disease is brought in by weaner or slaughter pigs.
Slaughter weight pigs could come in, and go direct to an abattoir;
weaners could arrive for finishing; or the exporters could buy British
units as a means of gaining access to the market.
Mr Welsh added: ''We believe that the movement of weaners into this
country is an unacceptable risk. Producers buying such pigs pose a
threat to this country's high health status.
''We also hope that abattoirs will share our genuine concern over the
possible supply of slaughter pigs from abroad.
''The UK industry has invested vast sums on the eradication of disease
-- the establishment of an Aujeszky's Disease-free situation was
financed by #27m of producers' money. It is now up to the whole industry
to take a firm stand to help safeguard the health of its pigs.''
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