Please note that our Data Protection Policy has been updated.  The update includes the addition of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) who may require limited access for data on trichinella controls for the export of live pigs and pig meat.  Also included is a new reference where limited data and analysis may be used towards reducing emissions intensity of livestock systems by improving on-farm production and greenhouse gas efficiencies. Other small changes include reference to withdrawal from the European Union, which may be subject to further updating.

ScotEID Data Protection Policy

Please see the update below from the Defra trade Readiness Team:

Trichinella and live pig/pig meat export

What is happening with the UK’s listing application for trichinella controls and the export of live pigs and pig meat?

Defra applied to the EU Commission for listing of GB as a third country to allow us to certify live pigs or pig meat for export as coming from controlled housing without the need for trichinella testing.

GB has been granted use of a derogation from testing un-weaned piglets under the age of 5 weeks.

We are awaiting the final outcome of our application regarding the ability to certify other pigs or fresh meat from them as coming from controlled housing without the need for trichinella testing.

Until the outcome is known, GB exports of live pigs or fresh pig meat will not be able to be certified as coming from controlled housing

When will the final outcome be known?

This is not expected before the end of February 2021 at the earliest. We will keep industry updated on the latest position.

Is this a change to the guidance issued on 1 January 2021?

This latest position reflects the status of Defra’s discussions with the EU Commission. It is intended to reduce the risk of pigs and pig meat being rejected when entering Member States.

What about exports from Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland does not need to be listed as a third country for export purposes but does need to be identified alongside Member States as a country using controlled housing.

Please see the attached update from Scottish Government on export health certification for pig meat to the EU and new requirements around separation from wild cloven hoofed animals.

• Letter to stakeholders
• Veterinary FCI declaration
• Keeper FCI declaration to slaughterhouse

The ScotEID Office will be closed on:

• Friday 25/12/2020 & Monday 28/12/2020
• Friday 01/01/2021 and Monday 04/01/2021

If you need to contact us during this time, please either email us at help@scoteid.com or leave a short telephone message on our answer machine and we will get back to you.

Stay safe and we wish you all the best over the festive period.

Research and development is continuing by ScotEID into the use UHF tags on farm and at markets and abattoirs.   UHF tags have been chosen because they will show the actual tag number (WYSIWYG), can long distance read, are anti-collision and  don’t interfere with existing EID systems.  The very latest UHF development includes battery power with GPS location.  UHF readers, both fixed and handheld, are available commercially being used in many industries throughout the world.

ScotEID UHF tags can be used voluntarily and are available as part of the pilot ongoing, testing their use on farm and through markets and abattoirs.  Currently there is one official UHF secondary tag available, and others will be made available during 2021.  There is, as yet, no planned date to make these tags compulsory, either for new-borns, or as replacement tags.  There are other UHF tags available but currently can only be used as management tags and manufacturers are currently taking these through compulsory testing called PAS44.

UHF tags are a light salmon pink colour making them easy to see, which will be important during the period when there will be mixed batches of cattle.

Low Frequency (LF) tags are only available using a manufacturer coded chip, this code has to be translated by software to show the visible number on the tag.  It is planned that official LF WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) will become available but will require a number change, which is complicated and requires current government systems to be updated.  Unfortunately, the CTS/BCMS system cannot be updated to accommodate a new number sequence compatible with the low frequency EID international standard (ISO 11784).  At this time ScotEID don't believe that LF WYSIWGY tags will become available as official tags until CTS/BCMS closes (when new cattle systems in England and Wales become operational), which could be two years away.

Cattle keepers have two choices currently: