To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent new strains of porcine epidemic diarrhoea from China and the US entering the UK.

Porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) is not a notifiable disease in the EU, nor is it an OIE (the animal equivalent of the WHO) listed disease and as such there are no legislative measures in place to control it.

China is not an approved country for the import of pigs into the EU and as such does not pose the UK a risk.

EU legislation Regulation 102/2013 enabling import of live pigs into the EU from the USA, amending 2004/68/EC came into place on 4 February 2013. As such, this trade is not well developed, only two consignments, less than 100 animals in total, have been imported. All pigs imported from USA for breeding or production must have been isolated for 30 days prior to export and certified by a vet that within 24 hours prior to loading for export, they have been examined and show no clinical signs of any disease. In addition, on arrival into the EU they must remain on the destination premises for a minimum of 30 days before they can move to another holding, unless for slaughter. These import conditions help mitigate against PED entering the UK. Industry is aware of this new disease risk and is advised to consider where they source pigs from and any disease risks they may pose. Routine best practice biosecurity measures undertaken in the UK pig industry to prevent disease spread by fomites or mechanical means additionally reduce the risk of PED introduction.