Pig keepers: report and record movements to or from your holding

If you own or keep farmed or pet pigs (including micropigs), you must report and record movements.

You must ‘pre-notify’ and confirm (report) any movement of pigs from your holding unless you’re moving pigs to a market.

To do this, you can:

• report online using the eAML2 system
• call the bureau helpdesk of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB): 0844 335 8400

To pre-notify online, you need to register (for free) on the eAML2 website. You can also contact the bureau helpdesk for help setting up a new account.

Telephone: 0844 335 8400
Email: eaml2@ahdb.org.uk

When to pre-notify

You must pre-notify before you move the pigs.

If you’re pre-notifying online, the details will register in the system immediately, so you can pre-notify at any time before you move the pigs.

If you’re pre-notifying by telephone, you must allow time for AHDB to send you the movement documents you’ll need to send with your pigs. Normally 5 working days will be enough. AHDB can also email you the documents if you can print them.

Change details of a pre-notified move

On the day of the move, you’ll need to confirm details of the move and any changes you’ve made since you pre-notified it (for example, a change to the number of animals being moved).

To do this, you can:

• notify the changes online if you have an eAML2 account
• call AHDB: 0844 335 8400
• text AHDB: 07786 203 116

You’ll have to register your mobile number through your eAML2 account if you want to use the text message service.

Documents that accompany pigs in transit

Pigs in transit must be accompanied by a ‘haulier summary/movement document’ (HS/MD).

If you pre-notify a move online, the eAML2 system will automatically generate an HS/MD that you can print off.

If you pre-notify a move by telephone, you’ll need to allow extra time for AHDB to post you an HS/MD.

The haulier or person transporting the pigs must keep a copy of the HS/MD for 6 months.

Report the arrival of pigs

The keeper who is receiving the pigs must confirm the arrival of the animals, and any changes from the initial notification.

To do this, they can:

• confirm the changes online through the eAML2 website if they have an eAML2 account
• text AHDB: 07786 203 116 if they have an eAML2 account
• call AHDB: 0844 335 8400

The receiving pig keeper needs to register their mobile phone number through their eAML2 account to use the text message service.

If the receiving keeper does not have an eAML2 account, the sender needs to give the haulier 2 copies of the HS/MD. The haulier will give 1 copy to the receiving keeper to help them report the move.

Move pigs to a market or collection centre

You do not have to pre-notify movements to markets or collection centres, if the market or collection centre has agreed to report the whole move (movements on and movements off) on the same day that the pigs arrive.

To help control disease, however, it is better if you are able to pre-notify online before a move to a collection centre or market.

You’ll need to fill in a paper HS/MD and send it with your pigs to the market or collection centre. You can get a paper HS/MD from a market or collection centre, or request one from AHDB.

On the day the pigs are sent, the market or collection centre will use the eAML2 system to:

• pre-notify the movement from your farm
• report the arrival of the pigs at the market or collection centre

You must check that the market or collection centre you’re sending animals to provides the same-day movement reporting service before you move animals.

Move pigs from a market

If you buy pigs at a market you do not need to pre-notify the pigs’ onward movement.

The market will pre-notify the next movement of the animals online through the eAML2 system and provide an HS/MD to the haulier.

You’ll only need to confirm the animals’ arrival at the premises stated on the movement document.

Standstill restrictions after pigs arrive at your holding

If a pig arrives on your farm from another holding, you cannot move any:

• pig off your holding for 20 days
• other livestock (for example, sheep, goats, cattle) off your holding for 6 days, except deer

Exemptions to standstill restrictions are listed in the General Licence for the Movement of Pigs - Annex A-C.

Keep a holding register

You must keep a record of every movement of pigs to or from your holding. Within 36 hours of any movement, you need to record:

• the date of the movement
• the herd mark of the pigs moved (or herd marks if there are pigs from more than 1 herd involved)
• the number of pigs you moved from each herd
• details of the holding the pigs came from (for movements on)
• details of the holding the pigs are going to (for movements off)

You must also record the individual identity number of any pigs moved to:

• exhibitions or shows
• artificial insemination (AI) centres or other breeding locations
• other countries

You can keep a paper or online register.

You must keep records for 3 years after you stop keeping pigs and make them available during an inspection, or to inspectors by post, on request.

You do not have to keep a holding register if you have an eAML2 account, because these details are all recorded in the eAML2 system. But you’ll need to make paper copies of records available to government inspectors on request.