Producers will have to answer some extra questions from Monday, May 25, to comply with new EU rules regarding country of origin labelling, according to BPEX.
The new demands, which introduce changes to eAML2, the electronic version of the pig movement licence, apply to all producers sending pigs for slaughter. The changes mean that the origin of the pigs will have to be declared.
BPEX head of technical Andrew Knowles said: “This is not a major change but does mean producers will have to answer some extra questions to comply with the EU rules.
“This change comes into effect on May 25, so producers, livestock markets and processors need to be aware that it is coming. The new information will be passed to the destination abattoir or farmer so they are aware of the origin of the pigs in the consignment.”
The new questions are for movements to slaughter (tick one box):
- Origin UK – born and reared in the UK
- Reared in UK and – imported from {select country from drop-down list}
- animal slaughtered is older than 6 months, reared in UK for at least the last 4 months or
- animal slaughtered is younger than 6 months and with a live weight of at least 80 kilograms, animal reared in UK from at least 30 kilograms or
- animal slaughtered is younger than 6 months and with a live weight of less than 80 kilograms and the whole rearing period took place in the UK;
- Reared in another country – Imported from {select country from drop-down list} for slaughter
- For farm to farm moves:
- Are all animals in the consignment born and reared in the UK:
- Yes
- No imported from {select country from drop-down list} for slaughter
