§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that blue ear disease in pigs is kept out of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1991, c. 554]: We took steps to deal with farms where pigs showed suspicious symptoms even before it was confirmed that blue ear pig disease was present in England. Once it was confirmed, on 13 June, our restrictions went further than the trade restrictions required by European Community rules, particularly in the designation of large restricted areas and in the controls imposed on farms which had received pigs which might have been carrying infection.
This framework of controls has enabled detailed studies to be carried out on the nature of the disease and its spread, making use in particular of the blood test developed at the Central Veterinary Laboratory. That research shows that the virus can be present in pigs which show only slight symptoms, or none at all; that infection can persist on pig farms long after clinical signs have disappeared; that fattening pigs, as well as those used for breeding, can be involved in its spread; and that it can be spread by animals which themselves show no sign of the 154W disease. The disease is behaving in the same way as similar conditions have done in north America, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The understanding that we have gained of the disease will be central to planning our own future strategy and that of the Community as a whole. Clearly, infection is more widespread than would be suggested by clinical signs alone, and can be expected to spread further, even where farms are subject to restrictions much tighter than those required by Community rules. It is now equally clear that some elements of the controls which we put in place in June do not increase the level of protection to the national pig herd enough to justify the disruption that they cause.
I have, therefore, decided to remove the elements of our restrictions on national pig movements that research has shown not to be worth while. All movement and area restrictions will be lifted from premises other than those where disease has been confirmed or is suspected. However, the trade restrictions required by Community rules—notably restrictions on exports from infected or suspect premises or the parishes in which they are located—will remain. Restrictions will also be maintained on the movement of pigs from such premises until eight weeks after clinical signs disappear, which clearly can be expected to reduce the extent to which infection is spread. The disease will remain notifiable and movements off restricted premises will remain subject to licence.
I have greatly valued the close contacts that we have had with the British Veterinary Association and producers organisations since blue ear pig disease was first suspected. In consultation with those bodies we have over the past weeks made a number of adjustments to our controls. We shall continue to consult them fully in the light of any further scientific advice that emerges.