ASF fears collide with import pressures at NFUS conference

Fears over African swine fever (ASF) and the impact of pork imports on Scotland’s pig sector erupted into a tense exchange at NFU Scotland’s annual conference in Glasgow, amid warnings that food security was being put at risk.

The issue was raised by East Lothian pig farmer Jamie Wyllie, who questioned the UK government’s handling of biosecurity after ASF was detected in Spain last year.

“African swine fever broke out in Spain in November in Catalonia,” he told the conference. “ASF, for those don’t know, can cause 100% mortality in pigs.”

See also: UK food labelling reform demanded by NFUS

Mr Wyllie, who is also the chairman of the NFUS Pigs Committee, challenged the speed at which the UK approved regionalisation measures for Spanish pork, contrasting it with delays seen elsewhere.

NFU Scotland National Pigs Committee chairman Jamie Wyllie asking a question at the conference © MAG/Philip Case

“We question, why and how, the UK government approved regionalisation screening within a day,” he said.

“It took weeks to do the veterinary risk assessments for foot and mouth [disease] in Germany.

“It would appear to us that the UK government is prioritising cheap food over domestic pig health.”

Backlog of pigs

NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon reinforced these concerns, pointing to mounting pressure on producers.

“We’re well aware there’s a lot of pork coming in, especially from Spain,” he said. “At 8am, I took a phone call from a concerned pig farmer in the North East who’s got 900 pigs backed up already.”

Responding, Scotland Office minister for the UK government Kirsty McNeill MP said animal health was not her specialist area but sought to reassure delegates.

“Yes, obviously, in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, the government is prioritising cheap food, but not at any cost, and not at the cost of your profitability and food security,” she said.

“There is certainly not, in our view, a kind of ‘at any cost’ approach to this at all.”

Loss of food security

Mr Wyllie returned to the microphone to stress the wider implications, drawing applause from the floor.

“I don’t normally do this, but it’s not our profitability, it’s the country’s good security,” he said.

“Cheap food right now is not acceptable over the loss of food security.”

Mr Connon urged ministers to recognise the strategic risk facing the sector.

“As a nation, we are 50% self-sufficient in pork, and yet, Scotland’s pig farmers have a backlog of pigs,” he said.

“We are an island. We should be protecting our island status, and I urge you to take this through to UK government at your earliest available convenience.”