All pig producers, their staff, advisers etc. will be able to apply to join the register. Criteria for membership, which is still to be finalised, will not be onerous but is likely to comprise the holding of a relevant qualification, a period of perhaps five years’ experience, or a combination of both.

Once on the register, members will be required to show they are keeping abreast of current issues and best practice and progressing their personal development by accumulating points, which will be awarded for participating in a wide range of activities.

It is likely members will be required to accumulate say 30 points over a three-year period and the types of activity that would attract points would include:

• Participative events – on- or off-farm training, development of CV, development of training needs assessment.
  
  
• Meetings with technical advisor/vet.
  
  
• Open technical meetings, seminars.
  
  
• Open technical/specialist shows e.g. Pig Fair, VIV.
  
  
• Membership/subscription for technical notes and journals.
  
  
• On-line distance/self-learning e.g. industry CD-roms.
  
  
• Undertaking assessment for qualifications e.g. Certificate of Competence, NVQ.