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.

There has been concern that those who want to reduce throughput will be required to physically decommission pig places, but this won't always be the case.

As long as pig-keepers are genuinely below the thresholds and have records to prove the point, they should be able to meet any challenge from the Environment Agency with equanimity.

But if there has been a substantial reduction in pig numbers not caused by factors such as loss of a building or inadequate slurry storage to comply with legal requirements, then some decommissioning may be required.

‘The Environment Agency has told us that as long as stocking levels don’t break the thresholds then pig-keepers will be okay, except in extreme circumstances,’ said Nigel Penlington.

‘For instance, if you are taking growers you get a receipt, and you get a receipt again when they go out of the door. This should adequately prove your case.’

It may never be clear how many pig-keepers are expanding and how many will contract as a result of IPPC, but some integrators are currently reporting a drop in finishing places.

By Digby Scott, NPA