Aid for pig farmers a step closer

Experts hope the outbreak has been contained

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has said UK pig farmers will get the same level of compensation for swine fever awarded to European farmers in the past.

But the minister is yet to reveal the amount of compensation available.

Mr Brown announced the plans for comparable compensation after four hours of talks with representatives of the pig farming industry in London.

I am determined our producers shall receive comparable treatment to pig farmers in other European states

Nick Brown Agriculture Minister

On Tuesday the EU lifted its ban on all live English pig exports and pig semen; now only animals from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex remain banned.

With this crisis just the latest to hit the industry the minister issued outlines of two new schemes to help embattled farmers.

He said: "I am aiming to introduce next week a welfare disposal scheme under which animals at the top end of the weight and age range of the production cycle will be taken off farms and slaughtered and their carcasses rendered.

"The Government would meet the cost of this," he said and added: "The question of compensation to farmers affected by movement restrictions also needs to be considered.

"I recognise that welfare management carries a cost. Any support measures will need to be carefully discussed by both the UK, the Treasury and the European Commission."

Timetable of the swine fever outbreak

8 August - 3,500 pigs in Suffolk to be destroyed.

9 August - Restrictions on two farms in Essex and Norfolk.

10 August - Two more farms in Essex and Norfolk hit.

11 August - Almost 6,000 pigs slaughtered. Belgium bans English pig imports.

12 August - 3,500 slaughtered. Two more farms affected. Belgium, Spain and Netherlands embargo live pig imports.

18 August - Restrictions on 35 suspect farms. Disease confirmed at five East Anglian farms, 12,000 slaughtered.

21 August - Four more farms cleared.

22 August - EU lifts export ban for most counties

He ended the statment by saying:"I am determined that our producers shall receive comparable treatment to pig farmers in other European states for disease outbreaks on a similar scale."

The chairman of the National Pig Association John Godfrey told reporters after the meeting that he now believed the outbreak was under control.

He also underlined how keen farmers are to know the levels of compensation they will be offered, as many of those affected, he said, may well be forced out of business without aid equivalent to their pigs full market value.

The exact amount is dependent on the outcome of talks with the Treasury and the European Commission.

The leader of the National Farmers' Union, Ben Gill, who also attended the talks, said: "I will be happy when we've got the deal signed and sealed.

"But this is a major progress to have the two schemes put to the Commission to ease the welfare problems," he added.

The ban on pigs from parts of East Anglia will remain in force until 15 September.