[MAK]

I know that there are a few of us keeping pigs in France and I have heard conflicting comments from others about the legislation. Tonight I found this on the Pigs In France web site ( for smallholders). On a forum someone said that there may be some Department variations re: keeping 1 or 2 pigs for your own consumption.

The following was taken from Pigs In France tonight but seems undated on their site.
Any thoughts?


If you keep breeding pigs in France YOU MUST:

    Register as an eleveur de porcs with your departmental ministere de l’agriculture. You will then be issued with ; un numéro de cheptel/ un numéro de l’élevage…. And a number for identifying your stock. All stock must be ear tattooed or tagged with your number.
    Each year you must complete the form, Declaration Annuelle D’Activite. This form asks you about the type of unit you have, the number of pigs you have and the number of weaners/fatteners you produced or sold the year before.
    All breeding stock must have a yearly blood test for aujeskies (maladie d’aujesky). You will receive a document, which must accompany all pigs travelling.

As from this year the following directions have been sent to eleveurs de porcs. (However after contacting the ministry there is no date set!):

    Your buildings or site (or in most of our cases, a tree !) must be marked with your numéro de l’élevage.
    Pigs must be marked with tattoo or tags. Slap marked if going to the abattoir.
    Pigs being moved must have Le document d’accompagnement.
    You must keep a movement book (records to be kept for 5 years).

This is an EU ‘thing’ and has been practised in England for as long as I remember !

The smallholder who just wishes to fatten a couple of weaners and have them home killed comes under none of these regulations, but most importantly MAKE SURE YOU ONLY BUY YOUR WEANERS FROM A REGISTERED ELEVEUR DE PORCS.

For more information contact your departmental chambre d’agriculture

[OhLaLa]

The part in question is the smallholder who just wishes to fatten a couple of weaners and have them home killed comes under none of these regulations

What they are referring to is (see link below):

Elevage "familial"

L'élevage en vue d'une consommation familiale n'est toléré que dans la limite de la présence d'un cochon à la fois dans l'exploitation et de 3 abattages au maximum dans l'année. La viande et les produits issus des animaux élevés et abattus à la ferme ne peuvent pas être vendus ou cédés à des tiers car ils ne bénéficient pas de l'estampille sanitaire délivrée en abattoir.

So, from this it would appear that it's fine not to be registered if you are taking them for a home kill for the family. As long as you buy them from someone who is registered.

I wouldn't risk it. It can all get very complicated.

But regardless of the above, in order to be sold, pigs still need ear tags, and fully completed movement papers.

http://www.gds69.asso.fr/web/gds.nsf/e9c718688b57374cc1257223007ffc79/3160aa90401dbff1c1256d0a00581a1f!OpenDocument

[MAK]

Thanks for the link - I can only find regional sites and the suggestion that the main pig area ( Brittany) has more regs. than other departments
Anyway it looks like that I had it right when;
 I bought tagged pigs ( the sellers would be obliged to sort out  movement papers)
The pigs were for my own use
and I arranged a home kill.
I haven't sold any either - its too good 

Just need to research what vaccinations they should have had before I buy them.

Hope the above has cleared things up for others and thanks OhlaLa.

[OhLaLa]

Just make sure that when the movement papers are filled out by the seller, they give you your copy. You need to carry it with you when you take the pigs, that way if you get stopped you have everything in order. If not you are liable to an immediate fine from the gendarmes and goodness knows what other grief.

Keep the paperwork for your records too.

[MAK]

Good advice but I get the pigs delivered as they won't fit in my Aston Therafter they don't leave the plot unless I take them for a walk.

[robert waddell]

and there was me going to get an Aston a well if you cant get a pig in it no point in getting a babe magnet

[MAK]

Never had a dog in it either 

just joking about the Aston - don't want anyone raiding us now I have disclosed where we live. We just have a 2CV and 3 bikes ( one has a buckled wheel and all have no lights).