Vietnamese pot bellied pigs, like any other pigs, are susceptible to many diseases. These include swine fever, swine vesicular disease, African swine fever and foot and mouth disease. All of these diseases are highly contagious and can have devastating effects on the commercial pig industry if there is an outbreak. To try and prevent this, the feeding and movement of pigs is controlled by legislation. These laws consider Vietnamese pot bellied pigs to be the same as any other pig.
Waste Food
Parts III and IV of The Animal By-Products Order 1999 prohibits the feeding of waste food to pigs unless the premises are licensed to process it. This is because waste food can be a cause of disease.
Waste food means any food of animal origin including meat, eggs and anything which has been in contact with them. Table scraps are waste food! (Processed animal feeds made from animal protein are exempt).
Please do not break the law and risk the health of your pig by feeding it waste food.
Movement licence - Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1995
Moving a Vietnamese pot bellied pig requires a pig licence. This includes taking them for a walk. The licences are a way of trying to prevent the spread of disease. Please contact your local Trading Standards Animal Health Officer for further advice.
Please do not break the law by moving your pig without a licence.
Cleansing and disinfection
If you move your pig in a vehicle, the vehicle must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after every journey, not later then 24 hours after the end of that journey. The disinfectant must be of a type approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
For this reason ordinary saloon cars are not suitable for transporting pot-bellied pigs. Remember these measures are for the welfare of your animal and the protection of the national pig herds.
For Further Information
Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards Advice Centres offer unbiased and friendly advice to both consumers and traders.
If you need help or just want some general advice, why not call in to your local centre, or telephone the advice line on 0845 050 5200.
Trading Standards
4th Floor
County Hall
West Bridgford
Nottingham
NG2 7QP
Trading Standards
17B The Square
Retford
Nottinghamshire
DN22 6DB
E-mail: tsadvice@nottscc.gov.uk
To make a consumer complaint online: www.consumercomplaints.org.uk