Pig Health and Welfare Council

The Pig Health and Welfare Council (PHWC) promotes a coordinated and integrated approach to improving pig health and welfare. It is a cross-industry alliance representing every stage of pig production.

The council was formed in 2003 to provide a single forum that would bring together a range of industry and government stakeholders engaged in pig health- or welfare-related activities or policy development.

In 2014, there were changes to the structure of the council. A more streamlined set of key strategic priorities has allowed the council to focus on four key areas, while remaining nimble and agile enough to adapt to any unforeseen changes that may appear on the horizon.

The council structure reflects the four areas in the form of four subgroups:

• Welfare
• Pig meat food safety
• Disease surveillance
• Antimicrobial usage

Pig welfare within the British Isles needs to reflect the diverse production methods within the industry, however, this often presents unique challenges when compared with our European counterparts.

This work requires considerable amounts of facilitation between the pig industry including pig keepers, slaughterhouses and processors, allied industries, vets and paraprofessionals, welfare scientists, consumer organisations and government.

The aim of the welfare subgroup is to develop workable strategies and initiatives to address the key issues identified.

The food safety subgroup aims to be the authoritative group for advice on strategic policy, surveillance, research and the management and control of zoonotic hazards in pig meat production.

The surveillance subgroup advises the council on proposals for effective surveillance of pig health and welfare in England.

This group’s main focus is to provide horizon scanning on new pathogens and emerging diseases of importance to the pig industry and on changes in levels of endemic disease within the UK.

This subgroup seeks out information on all aspects of antimicrobial use by the pig industry and identifies gaps in knowledge.

The group recognises the need to safeguard antimicrobials for future generations and reduce the risk of resistance developing.

The council's key areas of focus are surveillance and disease risk assessment, promotion of welfare, as well as prudent antimicrobial usage through improved disease management.

This can only be achieved by a close working relationship with pig keepers, the veterinary profession, government and allied industries.

PHWC recognises that its ongoing enterprises must be openly discussed with all interested parties in the pig sector and that results are communicated at all levels, from the farmer to government and Chief Veterinary Officer when necessary.

The main responsibility for the PHWC is to enhance the health and welfare of pigs in England.