The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Stevie G on May 25, 2012, 02:10:33 pm

Title: Rules and regulations.
Post by: Stevie G on May 25, 2012, 02:10:33 pm

Hi all  :wave: ,
Is it correct that if you buy fruit and vegatable from a shop of any sort that it is illegal to feed it to your pig(S)? ???
Ia m lead to believe that this is illegal to do this, unless the fruit and vegables are grown on your own land/property.
I fully underdstand that swill feed, household waste and any meat/animal by products are forbidden, but find it strange that that also applies to fruit and Veg from a shop????

Title: Re: Rules and regulations.
Post by: HappyHippy on May 25, 2012, 04:12:39 pm

It's the first I've heard of it, if that is the case StevieG.
As far as I'm aware (and I'm quite prepared to be corrected  ;) ;D ) it's fine to nip to Tesco (or anywhere else - other stores are available  :D ), buy a bag of banana's and feed them to your porkers......providing they don't enter your kitchen beforehand.
 
Karen  :wave:
 

Title: Re: Rules and regulations.
Post by: Berkshire Boy on May 25, 2012, 04:41:24 pm

I think you're wrong Karen, if the veg comes from a greengrocer you are ok but not any shop that sells meat ie a supermarket. :wave:

Title: Re: Rules and regulations.
Post by: HappyHippy on May 25, 2012, 06:05:41 pm

Okay BB, I stand corrected  :-[
We get ours from the Fruit market in Glasgow, so it's not a big worry for us  ;)
 
Stevie G here's a link to the DEFRA guide if you want a wee look for yourself (and have a spare couple of hours  ::) )
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb7950-pig-code-030228.pdf (http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb7950-pig-code-030228.pdf)
Karen  :wave:

Title: Re: Rules and regulations.
Post by: robert waddell on May 25, 2012, 06:42:35 pm

if the shop store or even wholesalers sell meat or meat products and i think from memory dairy products that fruit and veg could be cross contaminated  it is getting more difficult to feed fruit and veg and be compliant :farmer:

Title: Re: Rules and regulations.
Post by: oaklandspigs on May 25, 2012, 07:04:00 pm

In E&W (not sure about Scotland) the current Defra guidance states
 

It is permissible to source certain types of former foodstuffs (see above), as well as fruit and
vegetables, from non-catering premises for feeding to pigs, but this must only be done from

those premises that either do not handle materials banned from being fed to pigs, or that have

(HACCP) procedures in place to ensure complete separation from prohibited materials, and

these procedures have been agreed with the local authority.
 
Most supermarkets have haccp procedures in place, and certainly if you were a veggie buying a bag of apples you'd be pretty disappointed to find that Tesco had been rubbed them against a steak before being packed ! So buying food is generally thought to be different - although as above technixcally the store does need to have told they LA.
 
If you taking waste from shops you'd need to check that they have handling procedures in place to keep waste seperate (and that these have been agreed) - as shops are not allowed to let waste meat go to landfill, you'll find that all supermarekets or multiples have procedures in place, and even single shops should have haccp in place.
 
Generally whilst if you're sensible there is no risk, it is better to just talk to your local AH office and get their view, and if you do, let us know on this forum what they say.  Suspect a no will be the easy answer for them.