NPA urges producers to up security measures as ASF risk increases

NPA urges producers to up security measures as ASF risk increases

The National Pig Association (NPA) is calling on UK pig producers to raise their biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of African Swine Fever (ASF) on farms, should the disease enter the UK.

This news follows the government’s decision to increase the risk status of people bringing ASF to the UK from medium to high.

The NPA, in partnership with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Pig Veterinary Society (PVS), has published a checklist that aims to support producers in upping their security measures.

The Biosecurity Checklist covers a range of actions that can be undertaken by producers, from stocking up on PPE to ensuring perimeter fences are secure.

Senior policy adviser Rebecca Veale stressed that the recent movements of the virus in Europe must serve as a wake-up call to producers, as well as government. She said: “It only takes one slip to make this challenging time significantly worse.”

Veale added: “The last two years have put increasing pressure on producers and their staff so it’s understandable if some complacency has crept in.

“Sometimes, it is just about the simple things that people haven’t thought about for a long time, like an extra gate, or lines on the floor or signage to clearly de-mark areas.”

The NPA said it will continue to lobby on national biosecurity and to communicate the risks of potential ASF spread more widely.

The full Biosecurity Checklist can be accessed here.

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