March 16, 2007

UK announces changes on pig identification rules
 

The United Kingdom has declared changes to pig identification rules which will take effect on April 6.

Pigs must be marked in the following ways:

• The new rules require pigs over 12 months of age to be identified each time they leave a holding so that the last holding of departure is evident for disease control purposes. Previous legislation did not state the requirement for identification of pigs using a Defra herdmark from every holding they departed. Legislation used to require pigs over 12 months of age to be identified on only the first holding. This has therefore been changed for reasons of traceability.
   
• Permanent identification of pigs, prior to movement to market, regardless of age and moved to slaughter or to another holding.
   
• The new rules also require all pigs moving to market to be identified with a permanent mark from the holding of departure. This is to ensure markets do not have to identify pigs which are sold for slaughter.
   
• Pigs are required to move to slaughter with an identification mark identifying the holding of departure. The previous legislation allowed pigs under one year of age to move only with a temporary mark, consequently pigs that are bought at a market for slaughter had to be permanently identified by the market.