Significant Diseases Charter: producer Q&A

Established by AHDB, the Charter is an email alert system to provide producers and their vets with timely email alerts in the event of an outbreak of Swine Dysentery or Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea virus (PEDv).

Following industry consultation, membership is a requirement of Red Tractor standards as of 1 November 2021.

Disease control is reliant on industry collaboration and fast communication. Charter membership enables fast communication in the event of an outbreak of PEDv or Swine Dysentery to help contain the outbreak and protect the industry.

If you are already signed up to the Charter you do not need to take any further action.

You can revisit the terms and conditions of Charter membership here.

You can sign up through your PigHub account or by emailing Pig.Health@ahdb.org.uk

More information about how to access PigHub can be found here.

Yes, all Red Tractor assured units already have access to PigHub to upload their antibiotic usage data through the electronic Medicines Book (eMB).

This same platform is used to sign up to the Significant Diseases Charter. Click here to access PigHub or email Pig.Health@ahdb.org.uk

No. Red Tractor will recognise the Scottish Pig Health Charter as an equivalent scheme to the Significant Diseases Charter and you only need to be a member of one.

For more information on the Scottish Pig Charter please contact QMS or visit their website.

You should seek advice from your vet if you suspect Swine Dysentery or PEDv. PEDv is a notifiable disease in England and Wales and must be reported to:

• England: Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301
• Scotland: Quality Meat Scotland via the Scottish Pig disease Control Centre (SPDCC) on 01466 705 247

Find out more about PEDv. 

Your vet must notify AHDB of a confirmed case of Swine Dysentery or suspected case of PEDv. More information on reporting and definitions for vets can be found here.

The disease alert will inform members of the Charter and their vets of the postcode outcode (first four digits i.e.: YO26) of the outbreak, the county, details about the disease and next steps.

Information will also be sent to allied industry members indicating the location of the outbreak by county only.

For confidentiality reasons, where there are less than five units in a county, AHDB will revert to only reporting the county of the affected unit and not the postcode outcode.

All communications will be shared in draft form with the affected producer and their vet before being circulated.

Full terms and conditions of the charter can be viewed here.

There are two things your assessor will need to see: evidence that your unit(s) are signed up to the Charter and confirmation from your vet that you are compliant with the terms and conditions.

Your PigHub account will show which of your unit(s) are signed up the charter, follow the instructions below to check and demonstrate the status of your unit(s).

There is an additional clause on the Quarterly Veterinary Report (QVR) for your vet to confirm that the unit is compliant with the terms and conditions of the charter.

Log into your PigHub account and select ‘Producers’  or ‘Corporates’ depending on your business type.

Select ‘Your holdings’. 

Holdings that are signed up to the charter will be marked with a red + symbol:

For more information email Pig.Health@ahdb.org.uk or get in touch with Lauren Turner.