A LEVY introduced in the wake of an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever, in 2000, is to be reduced to zero. The PIDS levy of 20p per pig, introduced in June 2001, paid back a government loan which was used to top up payments to pig farmers who sold pigs into the welfare disposal scheme during the outbreak. The recommendation to reduce the levy to zero was put out to full industry consultation and the responses were uniformly positive. The intention was to bring in the change by the end of August but as pig slaughterings have held up reasonably well, the PIDS board recommended to the British Pig Executive (BPEX), to introduce the change from Monday, August 11. That recommendation was accepted by BPEX and is to be ratified at a meeting of MLC Commissioners on Thursday, July 24. BPEX Chairman Stewart Houston said: "The top up payments financed by the PIDS levy provided a vital lifeline for pig farmers caught up in the CSF outbreak and demonstrated what the industry can do by working together." PIDS Chairman John Godfrey said: "The PIDS board set its initial objective to collect only enough to repay the Defra loan. I am pleased that has been achieved as it will benefit British pig producers."
