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Deadly PED pig disease could become notifiable

PED is deadly to piglets
PED is deadly to piglets

Scottish Government has launched a consultation on whether or not Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) should become a notifiable disease.

Following requests from industry a six-week consultation has been launched to gather views on whether or not legislation should be changed to make it mandatory for any suspected case of PED to be notified to the relevant authority.

If the legislation changes, all cases of the disease would have to be reported to Quality Meat Scotland through the new Scottish Pig Disease Control Centre, which is being set up by the red meat levy body in conjunction with Wholesome Pigs Scotland.

The centre will offer biosecurity advice and support to pigkeepers on suspect and infected premises.

Scots farm minister Richard Lochhead said although PED does not affect humans, it is potentially devastating for piglets and pig welfare.

“Scotland’s pig industry, which was worth £95million to our economy last year, is understandably concerned about a new virulent strain of PED that has been seen in pig herds in China, North America and, more recently, in the Ukraine,” said Mr Lochhead.

“Although there have been no reports of this strain in the EU, there are other strains circulating within the EU pig herd that could also have potentially serious consequences.”

He said industry had been working with government to prevent an incursion of the disease and to develop robust contingency plans to deal with an outbreak should one occur.

“I have been asked now to make PED a notifiable disease, and we are now formally consulting on these proposals. I would encourage everyone with an interest in pigs and pig health to respond before the December 24 deadline,” added Mr Lochhead.

Aberdeenshire pig producer Kevin Gilbert, who chairs NFU Scotland’s pigs committee, said: “The threat posed to the health of Scottish pig herds by PED is substantial and infection would be a devastating blow to the sector. Were it to arrive, then speed is everything in disease control and in reducing the health, welfare and economic impact of a virus like PED.

“NFU Scotland welcomes this consultation. We believe that introducing notifiable status for PED would ensure reporting and communication is embedded within our pig sector and, in the worst case scenario of an outbreak, it would trigger an immediate response involving producers, hauliers and processors to shut down the disease spread.”

The consultation can be accessed online at

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/animal-welfare/specified-diseases/

Plans are currently underway to make the disease notifiable in England.