The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order which is made under the Animal Health Act 1981 replaces the Movement and Sale of Pigs Order 1975 and, so far as they relate to pigs, the Movement of Animals (Records) Order 1960 and the Markets, Sales and Lairs Order of 1925. It also implements some of the requirements of Council Directive 92/102/EEC on the identification and registration of animals (O.J. No. L 355, 5.12.92, p.32), so far as they relate to pigs (articles 3(1)(a), 4(1)(a), 4(3), 5(1), and 5(3) of the Directive are relevant).

The principal provisions of the Order are as follows:

1.  Each owner or keeper of pigs must supply information to the local Divisional Veterinary Officer about the holding and notify them of any changes in that information (article 3).

2.  A record of pig movements must be kept (in the form set out in Schedule 1 to the Order) and retained for 3 years. This record must include details of the identification marks of the pigs concerned (article 4).

3.  All pigs which are moved must be marked with an identification mark. This may be either a temporary mark or a permanent tattoo or ear tag. Pigs to be exported must be marked by a permanent tattoo or ear tag identifying the holding on which the mark was applied, a distinctive number allotted to the pig and the country code (UK). Pigs moved between holdings in Great Britain must be marked either as if for export or with a mark sufficient to identify them during the journey (articles 5 and 6).

4.  There is a prohibition on movement of pigs (other than slaughter pigs) between markets and collecting centres (article 7).

5.  Pigs may only be moved from a farm for certain purposes or returned to it if they are accompanied by a declaration made by the owner (article 9 and Schedules 2, 3 and 4). It is prohibited to move any pigs off premises within 20 days of the movement of any pigs onto those premises. This prohibition does not apply in the case of a number of exempted movements (article 8).

6.  Pigs may be moved from premises where waste food is kept only if they are accompanied by a declaration made by the owner or keeper and may be moved only to other premises in the same occupation or to a slaughterhouse for slaughter (article 10 and Schedule 5).

7.  Movement of pigs from a collecting centre is permitted if they are accompanied by a declaration (article 11 and Schedule 6).

8.  Movement of pigs from any other place is subject to licensing. Such licences are issued by the local authority or an inspector of the Minister (article 12 and Schedule 7).

9.  Sales of pigs and collecting centres are subject to licensing (articles 13 and 14). Market records are required (article 15). There are detailed provisions relating to licences, declarations and records (article 16).

10.  The forms of declaration and licence include requirements for cleansing and disinfection with an approved disinfectant of road vehicles used for moving pigs, impose restrictions upon the circumstances in which pigs can be moved in a road vehicle with other categories of pigs or with other things and on the transfer of pigs from one vehicle to another.

• Failure to comply with the Order is an offence under the Animal Health Act 1981 punishable under section 75 of that Act (article 19).

• A Compliance Cost Assessment has been prepared and a copy placed in the library of each House of Parliament.