Gildernew announces end of Aujeszky's Disease vaccination in pigs

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, has announced that vaccination against Aujeszky’s Disease in pigs will end from 1 July 2010.

This will begin a 12 month vaccine-free qualifying period thus allowing the north of Ireland to apply in due course for EU recognition of disease free status. 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.

Announcing the end of vaccination, the Minister said: "The eradication of Aujeszky’s Disease here is a credit to the local pig industry. It reflects the hard work of all the members of the joint Government/ Industry Working Group over a number of years.

“We are now progressing towards official EU Annex I status which will recognise the region as being free from Aujeszky’s Disease. To do this we must remain disease free for 12 months and also have no vaccination within those 12 months.”

She added: “My Department plays a key role within the industry working group which has asked us to facilitate the cessation of vaccination. I support the industry’s voluntary ban and also bring forward legislation as soon as possible to meet the EU requirements.

“The measures taken by the working group will pave the way for the ultimate goal of EU recognition of freedom from Aujeszky’s Disease. This achievement would open up a number of export opportunities for the pig industry.”

The Minister went on to point out that under the All Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, a joint approach on the eradication of this disease is being taken on the island of Ireland: “I welcome that this ban is being announced at the same time as similar action in the south of Ireland.”

Annex II status was achieved for the north of Ireland in July 2009 when the European Commission formally recognised the disease eradication programme being undertaken here.

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 (Annex II) and official AD freedom (Annex I). The north of Ireland gained Annex II status in July 2009. The south of Ireland received Annex II status in April 2010.
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 of Ireland is the only region within Britain and the north of Ireland which is not recognised as free of the disease. The south of Ireland is also not recognised as 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. All media queries should be directed to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.