The food industry and pig owners are urged to be biosecurity aware when disposing of food waste and feeding pigs, as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF) are close to Australia’s border.
Prohibited pig feed is any meat or meat products, or human food waste (including cooking oil) that contains meat or has contacted meat.
While Australia is free of these diseases, feeding prohibited pig feed to pigs is illegal because both ASF and FMD can spread to pigs if they eat contaminated food – this has been linked to outbreaks overseas.
Anyone that prepares food, including the food retail, food service and hospitality industries, has a responsibility to dispose of their food waste correctly.
Biosecurity SA Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mary Carr said the food industry and pig owners can help ensure animal diseases stay out of Australia.
"The State Government takes prohibited pig feeding seriously – it is against the law and anyone caught feeding or supplying prohibited feed to pigs can face a $10,000 fine," Dr Carr said.
"Foot and mouth disease and African swine fever are not present in Australia, however they are too close for comfort right now as they have been detected at Australia’s border.
"Foot and mouth disease viral fragments have been found in beef product at Adelaide Airport and in imported pork floss in Melbourne.
"The State Government are reminding food retailers to take extra care in disposing of their food waste appropriately.
"If you prepare and sell food, including restaurants, bakeries, butchers, hotels, fast food outlets and hospitals, you have a responsibility to dispose of your food waste appropriately.
"Everyone should dispose of food waste safely through your local council or commercial waste collection service for disposal in landfill or composting at a recycling facility.
“If someone has requested your food waste and you’re unsure how it will be used or if you suspect it will be fed to pigs, do not supply to them.
"Pig owners are warned not to feed pigs prohibited pig feed including meat, meat products and other food scraps including pies, pizza and deli meats – anything that contains meat or has contacted meat cannot be fed to pigs.
"It is also illegal to supply any food waste that has been in contact with contaminated containers such as
meat trays and take-away food containers.
"Play your part in protecting South Australia’s $499 million pork industry and remember that people food
is not pig food."
The State Government is undertaking a range of activities to prepare for any possible future exotic
emergency animal disease incursions in Australia, and the actions that will need to be taken in response.
Early detection of an incursion is essential to minimise spread and to assist in achieving rapid
eradication.
If you suspect pigs are being fed prohibited pig feed or you notice sick pigs, please call the Emergency
Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
See prohibited pig feed for more information.