Based on materials of Remco Shriver Report «Recommendations on improving Ukraine’s Pig Industry Regulations».

We are living in the time when complaining that something «wrong» is not enough, we must act, and there are opportunities of reforms! This principle was used by the Association of Pig Producers of Ukraine, when it applied to the project «Agroinvest» USAID to involve International Expert on veterinary medicine and public health protection Remco Shrijver for analyzing the situation in Ukraine. As a result of ten days staying in our country he has provided recommendations directed at harmonizing the legislation of Ukraine with the EU requirements in three areas: veterinary-protection zones and sanitary breaks, approval documentation, rules for importing pigs from other countries. Here is short version of his report.

Veterinary-and-sanitary rules

Ukraine

Ukraine currently has a complex legislation system that requires minimal distances between farms (sanitary breaks) and between farms and residential areas (veterinary-protection zones). Additionally, there is not a strategy for the pig sector on animal health, welfare and food safety that specifically addresses sanitary zones.

Ukrainian legislation lacks specificity on how to address risks of emissions.

EU

In Europe there is no legislation covering mandatory distances between farms and residential areas, they have a different approach to farms. As for establishment of sanitary protection zones, effective measures on biosafety engaged in livestock farms is an important criteria of zoning and compartmentalization for sanitary and epidemiological control and/or trade.

Despite the absence of legislatively established requirements for veterinary- protection zones and sanitary breaks in the European Union are the requirements for air quality designed to minimize risks to the health of animals and humans, which cause emissions.

Transportation of animals within the country and approval documentation

Ukraine

For movement of pigs within the country, there are specific regulations issued by the Ministry, but the actual implementation in the field varies.

The current Ukrainian model is based on the consideration that the state must control every movement. It is due to the fact that, in principle, pigs move from one farm with an unknown sanitary disease status and are transported to another farm with an unknown disease status.

Another problem is regulation of pigs transporting. Ukraine does not have professional pig transporters. The issue of sanitization and disinfection regulates by resolution of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, but the execution of its provisions is ignored by pig production.

EU

In EU regulations are based on Council Directive 2008/71/EC of 15 July 2008 on the identification and registration of pigs. This allows trace their movements within a particular EU countries or the EU.

To record movement of animals including pigs, the EU established TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System).

A biosecurity arrangement in several pig producing countries is the establishment of classification of farms based on sanitary level.

Rules for importing pigs from other countries

Ukraine

The current rules for import of pigs from other countries seem outdated and be in need of radical revision.

The required visit of a state veterinarian to the country every time a shipment of pigs is planned, can be replaced by a protocol whereby specific countries and enterprises are approved by the Competent Authority of Ukraine for a certain period of time (for instance for 1 year, after re-inspection 3 years and after again re-inspection 5 years). Also, when blood tests are taken in the exporting country, it is considered redundant to repeat the blood test again in the Ukraine.

EU

The EU distinguishes between intra-Union trade of pigs and import from third countries. For intra-union trade of pigs, there are, in principle, harmonized veterinary certificates. The basic requirements are compliance with identification and registration regulations on groups of pigs (EU Dir 2008/71/EC), and animal health requirements (EU Dir 64/432/EEC). These directives lay down precise rules (e.g. identification of the animals, prohibition of contact with other animals during the travel, cleaning and disinfection of means of transport, etc.). At the country level may establish additional requirements to prevent the spread of certain diseases.

For import from 3rd countries, the rules are more stringent. The basic regulation is Directive 72/462/EEC, specifying requirements for the legislation of the third country, the health status of the animals in the country, the regularity and rapidity of information on infectious animal diseases provided by the third country to the Commission and the OIE, the country’s rules on the prevention and control of animal diseases, and the organization, structure, competence and power of the veterinary services.

1. What the recommendations for changes veterinary and sanitary rules in Ukraine did the international expert give?
2. On which air quality standards one can base upon in establishing veterinary-protection zones and breaks?
3. How to harmonize Ukrainian rules of transportation of pigs according to the European standards?
4. How is the classification of pig producers by veterinary and sanitary status organized in Europe?
5. How is it possible to simplify the rules for import pigs from other countries to Ukraine?

You can find answers for these and other questions in the full version of the article in the magazine «Profitable Pig Production», № 6 (24) 2014