The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which applies in England only, continues to implement Council Directive 92/102/EEC on the identification and registration of animals (OJ No L 355, 5.12.92, p.0032) and revokes and replaces the Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) (Interim Measures) (England) (No. 2) Order 2002. (S.I. 2002/2154, as amended). It makes the following changes of substance—

• It removes the cessation provision so that the Order now has permanent effect (article 1).

• It amends the provisions relating to the identification of pigs so that—

  • before being moved off a holding, a pig over 12 months old must be marked with an identification mark or a slapmark (article 14) and a pig 12 months old or less must be marked in that way or with a temporary mark (article 15); and

  • a pig imported from outside the European Union must be identified at the destination of holding with an eartag or tattoo containing the letters “UK” followed by the herdmark and the letter “F” (article 16).

  • In addition to the above requirements, the Order provides that—

  • a pig 12 months old or less being moved to a slaughterhouse or slaughter market must be marked with an identification mark or a slapmark (article 18);

  • a pig being moved to a show, exhibition or for export and also for breeding, where it is intended that the pig shall be returned to the holding from which it was moved, must be marked with an identification mark that includes a unique individual identification number (articles 19 and 20).

• It adds article 6 requiring slaughterhouse occupiers to record details of pigs that have not been identified under this Order.

• It extends the period that records must be retained from 3 to 6 years (article 9).

Part 2 sets out record keeping requirements, including the requirement to keep movement records (article 5), sale records at an auction (article 7) and records of the number of pigs on a holding (article 8).

Part 3 defines identification marks (article 10) and slapmarks (article 12) and specifies the requirements for eartags (article 11). Part 6 regulates the movement of pigs (article 21) and pet pigs (article 22) and authorises the Secretary of State to approve holdings from which pigs may be moved without triggering the standstill period in the Disease Control (England) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1729) in the holding of destination (article 23).

Part 7 prohibits the removal and replacement of identification marks, except in certain circumstances (articles 24 and 25).

The Order is enforced by the local authority (article 27).

Breach of the Order is an offence under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981, punishable in accordance with section 75 of that Act.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared for this Order and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Livestock Identification Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ.