§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the estimated cost of eradicating Aujeszky's disease;
(2) if he will ban the import of pigs into the United Kingdom from countries where Aujeszky's disease is endemic;
(3) what representations he has had from the National Farmers' Union concerning Aujeszky's disease.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe cost of eradicating this disease could be £2 million.
At present there are no imports of live pigs from most other EEC member States because of swine fever requirements. It would be considered to be contrary to our obligations under Community law to impose a unilateral ban on imports of live pigs on account of Aujeszky's disease.
The National Farmers' Union has asked for a slaughter and compensation policy to be introduced to eradicate the disease.