Trading standards officers at Derbyshire County Council have issued advice to anyone keeping pigs, or micropigs.
Pig keepers must stick to a few simple rules in order that the relevant authorities can trace animals and protect against the spread of disease like foot and mouth disease and swine fever.
The county council’s trading standards team is advising that pet pig keepers need to follow the same regulations as pig farmers. That means registering their location with the Rural Payments Agency for a County Parish Holding (CPH) number, and informing the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in order to get a herd mark to identify their animals.
Without a CPH number, pig keepers are unable to report movements, and not reporting movements is an offence.
Pet pig keepers may also be unaware that feeding pigs on kitchen waste or catering waste is not allowed.
Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said: “Pigs are intelligent and affectionate animals and make charming pets but they are subject to the same regulations as commercial livestock.
“Registering your animals and providing accurate information to public bodies is crucial in keeping all animals healthy and stopping the spread of disease.”
Pig keepers must tag, tattoo or mark their pig if they plan to move it. They must also tell APHA if they move, acquire more pigs, or stop keeping pigs.
It is essential that pig keepers know the regulations around keeping pigs, including walking them, and they can find more here.