This is a subscriber-only article
The Dáil has passed a motion to introduce a 4c/pig levy on all pigs slaughtered or exported from Ireland.
The money raised from the levy will be used to fund work by Animal Health Ireland (AHI), which will be matched by the Government.
The Government has committed to provide €125,000 to fund AHI, providing the funding is matched by the industry.
This will bring the total AHI pig funding to €250,000.
A pig expert has been appointed to AHI and is expected to take up the post in September 2019.
Slaughter
The levy will be collected through slaughter plants and Minister Creed, ahead of the Dáil vote, confirmed there would be a mechanism to collect it on pigs sent from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland for slaughter.
He said the proposals for the fund included developing a producer database, honing in on lean management practices and welfare improvements.
SHARING OPTIONS: