African Swine Fever: Disease Control

(asked on 23rd October 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action he is taking to reduce the risk of the spread of African swine fever to pigs in the UK; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
George Eustice Portrait
George Eustice
This question was answered on 31st October 2017

Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) monitor outbreaks of diseases in the UK and across the world and regularly publish our risk assessments on gov.uk.

Recent cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Eastern Europe, specifically domestic pigs in backyard holdings in Poland, suggest reduced biosecurity in the region, and caused the UK risk level to be raised in September to low from very low.

EU safeguard measures restrict the movement of pigs and pig products out of ASF affected areas and we receive regular updates on the application of disease control measures in each Member State. The restriction zones cover a wide area.

Within the UK, further precautions to reduce the risk of accidental introduction or spread of disease include a ban on the feeding of swill and catering waste to animals, and a standstill on movement after the introduction of new stock to a farm.

The movement of vehicles and people, particularly farm workers, and personal imports of pork products from ASF affected areas present a potential risk. Defra, APHA and the pig industry are working together on a communications campaign for pig keepers to highlight the increased risk of ASF. This will focus on the importance of biosecurity and raise awareness of the disease risks associated with illegal feeding of kitchen waste or pork products to pigs.

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