Work is set to begin on a $3m biosecurity project to protect 700 abattoir jobs and safeguard the future of the South Australian pig industry.
The project, made possible by funding from the Pork SA Pig Industry Fund, the State Government’s Regional Growth Fund and with significant investment by Seven Point Pork’s (JBS) Port Wakefield and Big River Pork’s Murray Bridge abattoirs, will see truck wash and decontamination facilities installed at both locations.
The biosecurity upgrades will ensure plans endorsed by the Federal Government’s Animal Health Committee to prevent disease spread are implemented.
This includes ensuring abattoirs are not a central source of infection, with truck biosecurity being a key part of emergency animal disease risk.
Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mary Carr said whole of supply chain biosecurity is required to minimise the risk of disease spread and assure the safe movements of pigs to allow business continuity in the event of an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.
“With ASF on our doorstep and with the experience of supply chain disruption during COVID-19, the elevated awareness of the importance of biosecurity places us in a unique position to move beyond awareness and into behaviour change,” she said.
“Improving truck biosecurity at SA’s two major pig export abattoirs provides benefits to all industry participants.
“Having truck washing and decontamination infrastructure and industry members trained by regularly using truck washes will be a key risk mitigation to allow movements to occur safely in an outbreak, which will provide assurance for movement permits to be issued in an emergency response.”
Pig transport trucks have been identified overseas as a major factor contributing to the spread of ASF.
A review of truck biosecurity at South Australian pig abattoirs completed in 2018 by SA pig veterinarian Dr Barry Lloyd showed current facilities do not meet biosecurity best practice and require an upgrade.
The new facilities will provide livestock crate and under-truck carriage washing capability, barriers between bays to prevent cross-contamination, disinfection capability, drainage systems which prevent recontamination of trucks, CCTV for auditing compliance and waste management which isolates contamination and meets Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements.
New, best practice amenities for drivers are part of the overall biosecurity upgrade.
Pork SA chair Andrew Johnson said transformational change is required to address the biosecurity and business risk which is posed by ASF.
“Supporting this project consolidates biosecurity enhancements on-farm and processors will be in a position to assist in driving change within the industry by setting a standard,” he said.
“The co-investment from industry, particularly the major abattoirs, reflects the importance of this issue and the industry’s strong commitment to biosecurity.”
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the new abattoir biosecurity project was a clear contender to receive an allocation from the Regional Growth Fund as it aims to protect the productivity of the SA pig industry and provides job stability to abattoir workers in South Australia.
“The truck wash and decontamination facility upgrades will ensure producer and abattoir business continuity and will minimise the cost and risk to the state and South Australian pig industry if an Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) was to occur,” he said.
“Greater biosecurity supports market access and consumer confidence.”
