Gildernew praises progress in fight against Aujeszky's Disease in Pigs

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, has confirmed that the North has achieved Annex II status in respect of Aujeszky’s Disease in pigs.

Aujeszky’s Disease is an infectious disease that affects pigs and can cause production and welfare problems, as well as having trade implications for the North as a whole.

DARD and the industry have been working together since 2004 to achieve Aujeszky’s Free status in order to ease trading restrictions and improve the profitability of the sector. Annex II status is conferred by the European Commission and means they formally recognise the disease eradication programme being undertaken in the region.

Minister Gildernew said: “This formal recognition of Annex II status for the North by the Commission will be welcomed by the local pig industry, who have shown great fortitude and resilience over recent years. This is a critical step towards ultimately achieving Aujeszky’s Disease freedom in the North and reflects the hard work of all the members of the joint Government/ Industry Working group over a number of years.

“My Department plays a key role within the industry working group and will continue to participate as long as we are required. The measures taken by the working group are hopefully paving the way for the eventual eradication of Aujeszky’s Disease. I am keen that they keep up the good work to achieve the ultimate goal of freedom from Aujeszky’s Disease. This achievement would open up a number of export opportunities for the pig industry.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Aujeszky’s Disease (AD) is an infectious disease caused by the herpes virus. It can cause production and welfare problems in affected pig herds. There are trading implications for a country which is not AD-free. Commission Decision 2001/618 and updated by 2008/185/EC, outlines additional guarantees in intracommunity trade of pigs relating to Aujeszky’s Disease and defines requirements for official scheme recognition (AnnexII) and official AD freedom (Annex I)

2. Commission Decision 2001/618 governing intra-community trade on Aujeszky’s Disease, introduced from July 2002, outlines strict rules requiring freedom from Aujeszky’s Disease within a 5km radius of any herd exporting pigs. The North is the only region within the UK which is not free of the disease. ROI is also not disease free.

3. DARD is a member of the Aujeszky’s Disease Working Group, which is comprised of representatives from the UFU, pig producers, DARD, AFBI, PVPs and meat plant processors. The measures taken by the working group include price penalties on any producer whose pigs tested positive at abattoir, or who presented pigs for slaughter which had not completed a first breeding herd test towards upgrading to AD freedom. From 2008 the group agreed that only pigs from AD free herds were to be accepted for slaughter.

4. Media enquiries to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.