PIG owners are being urged to be biosecurity aware when feeding pigs, with foot and mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF) still close to Australia’s border.

Meat and meat products, or human food waste – including cooking oil – that contains or has contacted meat is prohibited as pig feed.

While Australia is currently free of the diseased, pigs eating the prohibited or contaminated food is linked to outbreaks of FMD and ASF overseas.

Biosecurity SA chief veterinary officer Dr Mary Carr said pig owners can help ensure animal diseases stay out of Australia.

“The state government takes prohibited pig feeding seriously – it is against the law – and anyone caught feeding or supplying prohibited feed to pigs can face a $10,000 fine,” Dr Carr said.

“Foot and mouth disease and African swine fever are not present in Australia, however they are too close for comfort right now as they have been detected at Australia’s border.

“Foot and mouth disease viral fragments have been found in beef product at Adelaide Airport and in imported pork floss in Melbourne.

“Pig owners are warned not to feed pigs prohibited pig feed including meat, meat products and other food scraps including pies, pizza and deli meats – anything that contains meat or has contacted meat cannot be fed to pigs.

“Play your part in protecting South Australia’s $499 million pork industry and remember that people food is not pig food.”

Early detection is essential to minimising spread and assists in achieving rapid eradication.

Call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 if pigs are suspected to be sick, or to have been fed prohibited food.