Nick Brown Agriculture Minister met leaders of the pig industry in London on Wednesday to discuss the progress made in dealing with the outbreak of classical swine fever which began in East Anglia just over two weeks ago.
Four key issues were discussed: –
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– the progress made in containing and eradicating this highly contagious pig disease;
– the very positive decisions taken by the EU Standing Veterinary Committee yesterday, including the scaling-back of the embargo on the export of live pigs, and the immediate lifting of restrictions from some 40 per cent of the farms in the original disease surveillance zones;
– the animal welfare issues which have resulted from the need to restrict the movement of pigs to markets from those farms still under surveillance;
– and the assessment of possible financial support to those farmers affected by the disease prevention measures and consequent welfare problems.
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By GlobalDataFollowing the meeting Nick Brown said,
“This was a constructive discussion. Eradicating this disease remains the first priority of all those present today. The fact that the number of confirmed cases remains at five and the number of affected pigs slaughtered at around 12,000 is welcome news.
“But it would be wrong to think that the outbreak is over. Many more tests have still to be carried out and many farmers still cannot move animals off their land.
“The animal welfare effects of these restrictions are potentially serious. Overcrowding causes pigs great distress. The consequences also impose added strain on farmers who are already under great pressure.
“To address this aspect of the problem I am aiming to introduce, next week, a welfare disposal scheme under which animals at the top end of the weight and age range of the production cycle will be taken off farms and slaughtered and their carcasses rendered. The Government would meet the costs of this.
“The question of compensation to farmers affected by movement restrictions also needs to be considered. I recognise that welfare management carries a cost.
“Any support measures will need to be carefully discussed with both the UK Treasury and the European Commission. Important safeguards exist to control state aids being set up in EU Member States and public expenditure within the UK. However I am determined that our producers shall receive comparable treatment to pig farmers in other EU states for disease outbreaks on a similar scale.”
The Government’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Jim Scudamore, who gave a briefing on the current disease situation, also undertook to consider whether moving pigs within the infected areas under controlled conditions could be permitted, if doing so could relieve animal welfare problems on some farms.
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