Pig farmers may sue over PMWS disease fears

AUSTRALIA - Pig farmers are threatening to sue the federal government if tests confirm cases of an untreatable disease that could devastate Australia's pork industry.

Authorities are investigating two possible cases of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) on farms in NSW and South Australia.

Australia is one of the few countries free of the disease, which has the potential to cripple the $2.5 billion pork industry and the thousands of jobs that depend on it.

The most likely way for PMWS to enter the country is through imported pig meat and producers say the government should reconsider its decision not to revoke dozens of import permits.

The head of the South Australian Farmers Federation's pork committee, Rob Berlin, said producers could sue for compensation if PMWS is confirmed.

"If it turned out to be a positive case I can imagine that the industry would be very, very distraught about it and would be looking for compensation," he said.

However, he is hopeful the test results will come back negative because mortality rates at the farms are not as high as they should be for PMWS.

The NSW Farmers Association said the presence of the disease could destroy the industry.

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Source: 7 News

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