Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said there was a need to maintain effective surveillance measures to enable the industry to protect its reputation and capitalise on market opportunities. ''Victoria's pork industry has an excellent animal health status, however we need to maintain a capacity to protect this thriving industry from emerging diseases,'' Helper said.

 

''The Department of Primary Industries will help the industry introduce agreed livestock management and biosecurity procedures. The projects will be managed by DPI's Animal Health Field Services, using the expertise of pig specialists based in Bendigo. ''This core group's activities will include abattoir surveillance, the development of on-farm herd health monitoring activities, networking with veterinary practitioners, industry health and pig management meetings and enhanced training for people in the industry.''

 

Helper said that industry participants would gain a better understanding of the biosecurity risks involved with the production of pigs in Victoria, whether the operator was large or small. ''We have been working closely with industry and these measures have their full support,'' he said. ''Project plans have been reviewed by Victoria's Swine Industry Projects Advisory Committee and a recommendation made by this committee in relation to industry co-funding.

 

''In line with the committee's recommendation, stamp duty on the sale of pigs and pig carcasses will come into effect on July 1, 2010. The rate of duty for pigs will be AUD0.02 per AUD5 (US$0.017 per US$4.30), up to a maximum amount of AUD0.16 (US$0.137) per pig or pig carcass,'' he said.

 

''The use of the stamp duty will help ensure that sufficient funds are available in the Swine Compensation Fund to support the new initiatives,'' he said.