A pet pig owner has been reported to Biosecurity SA for feeding food waste containing meat products from a food outlet, prompting industry leaders to urge SA pig owners to update their knowledge about illegal feeding practices.
About two months ago a random supermarket audit near a farming community undertaken by Biosecurity SA uncovered the illegal use of swill – food waste that has come into contact with meat products.
Biosecurity SA chief veterinary officer Roger Paskin said the use of such pig feed was against the law, and anyone caught feeding or supplying pigs with swill could face a $10,000 fine under the Livestock Regulations Act 2013.
He said the consequences of incorrect disposal of food waste could have serious biosecurity and animal health risks.
Dr Paskin said it was the first illegal pig feed case in a many years but authorities could not confirm it was an isolated case.
“We were lucky to find this one and this is why pig owners need education about the risks involved,” he said.
The practice has ceased and Biosecurity SA is working with the operator on a compliance program.
Giving prohibited feed to pigs has been linked to outbreaks of foot and mouth disease and other livestock diseases overseas, including African swine fever.
“If an FMD outbreak was to occur in Australia it is estimated that it could cost the Australian economy more than $52 billion in lost revenue over a decade,” Dr Paskin said.
Pork SA chairman Mark McLean said although the case was a minor offence he supported industry initiatives, and education programs to ensure pig owners followed the correct food standards and did not use swill.
“We need to continue to educate the public about how critical biosecurity and food safety is. We have a great pig health status and we need to protect that, particularly in these kind of incidents where people mistake food waste as pig feed,” he said.
