EU to introduce new testing regime for pigs to control trichinella

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is introducing a new testing regime at the end of this month as part of the EU control on trichinella.

All pigs from non-controlled housing must be tested before they can go into the human food chain. The FSA is still working on guidelines for producers to identify whether or not pigs come from non-controlled housing.

The FSA estimates 3% of the total pigs sent to slaughter will be in the category of non-controlled housing, i.e. organic and free range.

Guidance is being developed to determine how to classify other production systems.