Pat's Note: The EU do know and have known for some years of the risk
to human health currently posed by sick pigs. This new tightening of
the rules is doubtless a reflection of the concern. It is late and
insufficient - all movement of live pigs between countries should have
been banned years ago.

The constant harping on about largely imaginary illegal infected
imported meat is a diversion that has cost lives. The big risk is live
movements. It always has been.

Events are now moving at an ever increasing pace. I was struck
recently by some out-of-date and probably inaccurate figures from
Britain's pig industry. They claim, probably accurately that the
losses have moved from piglets to pigs being finished. Financially
this is much more serious. Lost piglets is lost potential, lost
finishers is lost expensive feed.

The losses have doubled in the last decade. The vaccine currently
being touted is the last hope, if that fails to stop the epidemic of
PMWS - PDNS - Circovirus, it looks like melt down.

This is entirely down to corruption and incompetence in the State
Veterinary Service and the wider veterinary establishment.

It was an avoidable disaster caused by arrogance and greed.

http://www.pigprogress.net/news/id1602-63205/eu_pig_identification_rules_tightened.html

EU pig identification rules tightened// 13 Aug 2008

An EU Council Directive has been adopted calling for stringent new
standards for pig identification and registration.

  
The new directive builds on multiple amendments to existing veterinary
legislation, and requires member states to ensure tight control over
records of pig numbers and animal movements.

Up-to-date lists
Competent member state authorities are required to keep up-to-date
lists of all the holdings where pigs are reared, as well as specifying
the keepers. Member states are also obliged by the directive to ensure
that all pig keepers on this list maintain a register detailing the
number of animals present on the holding.

The register should additionally include an up-to-date record of
movements, stating as appropriate the origin or destination of pigs at
the holding, and the date of such movements.

Keepers are also required to supply "all information concerning the
origin, identification and, where appropriate, the destination of
animals which he has owned, kept, transported, marketed or
slaughtered".

Marking requirements
Procedures for ensuring no pigs are unmarked and unaccounted for are
also the subject of new precisions. 

The member state list of holdings must include the marks on the animal
which identify the individual holding, until three consecutive years
have elapsed with no animals on the holding.

The directive also states that identification marks must be applied
before animals leave the holding of birth, with an eartag or tattoo
referencing their holding of origin. 

This also applies to any animal imported from a third country, which
need to be marked within 30 days of veterinary checks -- and in any
event before being transported away from the first holding.

Exceptions
Exceptions to this are only permitted if pigs are being transported
directly to a slaughterhouse within the member state territory, for
slaughter within 30 days.

The new directive will operate in tandem with more detailed rules
established in the porcine sector for disease eradication and control
purposes.

Alongside identification and traceability concerns, existing animal
health requirements ensure that a harmonised veterinary health
certificate is provided prior to any intra-Community dispatch of pigs,
with additional certification required if the destination is an
assembly centre or market. 

-- 
Regards
Pat Gardiner
Release the results of testing British pigs for MRSA and C.Diff now!
www.go-self-sufficient.com  and http://animal-epidemics.blogspot.com/