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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) North Dakota’s state veterinarian says additional requirements are now in place to prevent the spread of a deadly virus affecting pigs.

“All swine entering the state, except those for immediate slaughter, must be accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection,” said Dr. Susan Keller. “All swine imported into North Dakota for breeding or feeder purposes must be officially and individually identified.”

Keller said the discovery of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) in North Dakota, industry concerns and the upcoming exhibition season led the State Board of Animal Health to strengthen the existing requirements and to put new rules into place.

“Any pigs brought into the state for exhibition must be officially and individually identified by one form of permanent and one other form of approved official use tag,” Keller said. “At the same time, a certificate of veterinary inspection is now required for all intrastate movement of pigs, except those headed for slaughter.”

Keller urged anyone handling pigs – producers, exhibitors, transporters and slaughter facility workers – to familiarize themselves both with the regulations and with proper bio-security measures.

A link to the requirements is available on the homepage of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website at www.nd.gov/ndda.