An NPA message to the British pig industry
UK - Whenever we talk to producers about production matters, pig health problems are top of their agenda. With this in mind NPA have embraced Defra's proposal for a National Livestock Health and Welfare Strategy wholeheartedly.
19 June 2003
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National
Pig Association  THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & White-hall, and with pro-cessors, supermarkets & caterers – fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry. |
Stewart Houston, NPA Executive Director - "NPA has worked with BPEX, MLC and the PVS to prepare a draft British Pig Health Improvement Programme which we anticipate will come under the umbrella of the Defra proposal.
Although the Defra document will be distributed for a three-month consultation in mid July, with a view to a launch of the final document at a conference in spring 2004, we have demonstrated our enthusiasm for this project by agreeing with Defra to launch our proposals for a British Pig Health Improvement Programme this autumn and with Ministerial support.
To that end we intend to consult widely over the next couple of months through NPA's committees, the other signatories and the NPA website with a view to finalising our proposals during August.
Background papers used to prepare the draft are available in NPA website library and I would encourage a lively response to this important consultation."
Key Points of the Industry Plan
The British pig industry's desire for a national pig health improvement programme was signalled on this page last month and in May issue of Pig World. The initiative is now gathering momentum. The programme will involve disease surveillance and eradication, coordinated by a new body -- the British Pig Health Council.
- Establish a national structure to provide the focus, drive and planning for a national pig health improvement programme.
- Establish the present health and disease status of the British pig herd.
- Enhance disease surveillance information available to pig producers.
- Undertake intervention studies on disease control and eradication and support health improvement programmes with advice.
- Develop nationally-recommended biosecurity protocols.
- Develop national protocols for new disease prevention and eradication programmes.
- Quantify risks and the consequences of emerging pig issues.
- Enhance training in disease identification and treatment.
- Increase the programme of targeted pig disease research.
Source: National Pig Association - By Digby Scott - 19th June 2003
