The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFUS) has asked the UK government to consider the consequences that its “lax approach” to introducing post-Brexit border controls could have in relation to African swine fever (ASF).
The union is issuing a warning about border controls following the discovery of ASF in Sweden for the first time earlier this month.
NFUS pigs committee chair, Jamie Wyllie, said: “Without proper border checks and enforcement, we have little chance of stopping this disease.
“Recent confirmation that it is to further delay border controls on animal and plant products imported from the EU, with the process now expected to start at the end of January 2024 and be completed in October next year, is seriously disappointing and continues to leave pig producers exposed to the introduction of ASF.
“The UK government still insists ASF is a medium risk when reporting disease but without border controls and the disease still spreading in Europe, NFU Scotland believes this should be moved to high.”
ASF
The NFUS issued a reminder to producers and the public on steps they should be taking to prevent ASF from reaching the UK.
“ASF is a disease that affects only pigs, but were it to arrive in the UK, it would have a devastating impact on our pig herd,” the NFUS said.
Because of this, it said, it is reiterating three messages:
- For the public: Don’t bring pork products into the country for personal consumption or resale;
- For farmers: Revisit your biosecurity measures around visitors and food waste;
- For the UK government: “Protect our Borders”.
Wyllie said the growing threat of ASF on mainland Europe continues to “loom over all pig producers in the UK”.
“The impact and severity on our pig herd, were ASF to reach these shores, cannot be underestimated,” he said.
“At farm level, biosecurity remains our first line of defence and producers need to consider who and what they allow on their farm.
“For the public, we urge them to comply with the requirement that no pork products should be brought into the UK for personal consumption.”
Sweden’s first ASF case
Sweden’s National Veterinary Institute confirmed earlier this month that a case of the highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs was found from a sample of a dead wild boar found southeast of Fagersta – 145km from Stockholm.
The country’s National Veterinary Institute (SVA) said seven wild boars have been found dead in the Fagersta area since August 25, 2023.
SVA said it is currently not clear how the disease came to Sweden, but that it is assumed it has been introduced through human activity and not wild boar.
Lena Hellqvist Björnerot of the Swedish Board of Agriculture said: “The contingency plan we have had for a long time is now being implemented.
“We are also taking note of experiences from other countries that have been in a similar situation.”
SVA said relevant authorities are now working intensively to localise, contain and control the infection.
Results from samples of more dead boar have not been released yet, however, SVA said the carcasses that have been found and sampled are within the core area where the positive cases have already been detected, so there are no carcass findings that “change the picture” of the outbreak.
ASF in Europe
Prior to ASF being recorded in Sweden, according to the International Disease Monitoring report for Europe in August, outbreaks of ASF in domestic pigs have been reported in:
- Serbia (353);
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (326);
- Romania (102);
- Croatia (95);
- Russia (8);
- Italy (4);
- Moldova (4);
- Ukraine (4).
- Latvia (3);
- Poland (2).
Cases of ASF in wild boar have been reported in:
- Latvia (200);
- Poland (106);
- Italy (31);
- Hungary (22);
- Serbia (17);
- Germany (8);
- Czech Republic (7);
- Romania (3);
- Russia (3);
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (3);
- Republic of North Macedonia (2);
- Ukraine (1).
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), ASF has become a “major crisis” for the pork industry in recent years and is responsible for massive losses in pig populations and drastic economic consequences.
“Currently affecting several regions around the world, and with no effective vaccine, the disease is not only impeding animal health and welfare but has also detrimental impacts on biodiversity and the livelihoods of farmers,” it said.
WOAH said the disease can have a mortality rate of 100%.
The is currently no effective vaccine against ASF. It does not pose a threat to human health, but can be easily spread by humans across country borders.
“The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon,” WOAH said.
“Therefore, human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken.”
