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Pig farmers urged to review biosecurity
Image pig
Pig producers have been warned to protect herds from devastating diseases.
Warning issued as diseases spread to new countries

Pig farmers have been warned to review their biosecurity to protect herds from devastating diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) virus.

BPEX has issued the warning as both diseases have been confirmed in new countries this week. ASF was confirmed in wild boar within the EU in Lithuania, while the virulent strain of PED virus in the US has reportedly crossed the border to Canada.

According to BPEX, ASF poses a particular threat to the UK as a "considerable number" of pig farm workers travel to and from Eastern Europe and the disease can be transported via affected pig meat products. Producers can order "Don't bring it home" posters from BPEX to alert staff to these risks.

The organisation says key points for good biosecurity include:

Isolating pigs on arrival at the unit
Limiting access to people and vehicles
Thorough cleaning of livestock lorries
Arranging an off-site collection point for deadstock collection vehicles.

In addition, BPEX says producers should ensure pigs have no access to meat products to products which may have come into contact with meat.

Information can be found on what the UK would do if ASF arrived in the country is available on Defra's website.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.