Non-formal consultation on electronic reporting of pig movements in England
Defra consulted non-formally on a proposal to replace the current paper method of reporting pig movements in England with a pre notification electronic system.
Defra consulted non-formally on a proposal to replace the current paper method of reporting pig movements in England with a pre notification electronic system. The system will be delivered in partnership with industry and will include a free bureau service for those keepers who are not able to use computers themselves to report the moves. Reporting movements directly by computer or through the bureau service should reduce the burden on keepers and provide more accurate and timely information for disease control purposes. The existing Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2007 (PRIMO) will be replaced by a new 2011 Order to provide the necessary legislative base.
The consultation also sought views on three areas, these are:
- permitting the use of compressed air applied slap marks (tattoos) as an alternative option to the standard methods of identifying pigs; and
- reducing the retention period for on farm records from 6 years to 3 years and
- requiring individual identification and recording for boars moving to artificial insemination centres.