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Business Advice - Our Self-help Advice SheetsKeeping pet pigs
There are strict laws relating to the keeping of pigs as pets. You must register as a pig keeper, have a licence for any movement of pigs on or off your premises, and keep records of such movements. Pigs are required to be identified with an ear tag/tattoo/slap mark consisting of the Defra allocated herd mark - if under a year old a temporary mark can be used. Pigs must not be fed any waste food, including table scraps and any food that has been in contact with meat. Pigs are farmed animals and must be properly disposed of if they die - burial is illegal. If you intend to breed and sell or send animals to slaughter, then different rules apply. In the guide The legislation These regulations are in place because all pigs are farmed animals in the eyes of the law - whether kept as a single pet pig or as part of a large commercial herd. Pigs are susceptible to highly contagious diseases, which if allowed to spread unchecked could decimate the UK farming industry, such as was seen during the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. Risk of disease Official documentation and registration - legal requirements When you have your CPH number you will need to obtain a movement licence so you can legally move your pig. In order to obtain a movement licence you have a number of options: 1. Register for eAML2 by going to the BPEX website. You can then set up movements online and print the requisite number of haulier summary/movement documents. The eAML2 is the electronic version of the pig movement licence (AML2) and since 1 April 2012, has replaced the AML2 paper form and individual movement licences issued at livestock markets by trading standards animal health officers. The eAML2 also incorporates the food chain information (FCI) that is required when moving pigs to slaughter. 2. If you do not have internet access then you still need an electronic eAML2 and you will be able to get one over the telephone by ringing the eAML2 helpline on 0844 335 8400. In this case the documents will be posted to you and you cannot move any pigs until the documents have been received. 3. Pig movements to a market (or collection centre) ONLY do not need to be pre-notified. You may complete a written paper copy of the haulier summary. You can only move animals to market in this way if the market (or collection centre) agrees to complete the movement electronically for both the move from the farm and confirmation of the arrival at the market - on the day of arrival of the pigs. You must ensure the market can facilitate this option before moving the animals and must receive and retain confirmation from the market when it has done so in the form of a completed eAML2. Whichever method you choose, you must have an eAML2 or completed haulier summary for any movement of pigs on or off your premises before you move the pigs. If you have Internet access and you register to use the eAML2 system you should find setting up and pre-notifying your pig movements is an easier and more efficient option. You must then - within one month of getting your pigs or taking over a premises which already has pigs - register with Defra as a pig keeper, which will issue you with a herd number.You will be asked for your CPH number as a reference and will then be issued with a Defra herdmark, which is a quick and effective method for identifying premises from which pigs have moved. Note - This registration is a legal requirement for disease control purposes and is not related to registration with any breed/pedigree societies. Record keeping
You must record each movement of a pig on or off your premises within 36 hours of the movement taking place, and once a year you will need to record the maximum number of pigs you normally keep and the actual number of pigs on your holding at that date. If you stop keeping pigs you must keep your records for three years after the date that the last animal left your premises. You must also keep a record of any veterinary medicines purchased and administered to your pigs - including medicines given by a vet. You must keep a record of the disposal of any dead pigs (see our leaflet 'Guidance on the disposal of animal by-products and carcases') - these cannot be buried or fed to dogs etc. Identification It is important to identify a pig with your herdmark before it is moved off your holding. So even if a pig was identified when it came onto your holding you must identify it again with your herdmark before it moves again. Transporting your pet pigs When you get the pigs home Standstill rules apply different time restrictions on different species of livestock and are designed to slow the spread of disease within livestock and help protect the farming industry. These rules mean that any pigs or other livestock animals already on your premises, will not be allowed to move off the address for a set period of time - in the case of pigs this is 20 days (with limited exceptions). This means your pigs cannot move anywhere until 20 full days have elapsed - that is, they are free to move again on the 21st day after pigs moved on. Any sheep or cattle on a holding to which pigs are moved to cannot move off (with limited exceptions) until six full days have elapsed - in other words, cattle and sheep are free to move again on the seventh day after pigs moved on. Waste food and animal by products If a pig dies Walking licence
To get a walking licence contact your local Animal Health Office. Your pigs' welfare Further reading Please note Relevant Legislation Last reviewed/updated: August 2012
Sheffield City Council Trading Standards,
2-10 Carbrook Hall Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 2DB |