National Pig Association THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & Whitehall, and with processors, supermarkets & caterers - fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry.

It has been abundantly clear from phone calls today that the communication on this issue has not been as perfect as it might be with cull sows delayed in abattoir and no-one quite sure what should be happening.

The first few days of the regime have also seen much longer delays in test results being returned; this should be a temporary situation but if it persists we would welcome feedback from producers.

Just to remind you, the testing of cull breeding stock destined for export has been done as a matter of routine for a long time now and has been valuable in supporting the position that Great Britain is trichinella-free.

We have argued we should not be subject to the European Union directive that requires ALL outdoor reared pigs to be tested, as will be the case in other European countries. The testing of all cull breeding stock is the price we have paid to support our ongoing claim of freedom from trichinella.

Source: Ian Campbell - the National Pig Association - 11th January 2006