The Department of Agriculture has today confirmed a ban on pigswill with immediate effect, as part of its efforts to combat foot-and-mouth.
The ban on feeding swill will stay until the end of December. Swill covers carcasses, offal, table or kitchen waste; household scrap; and the waste from animal slaughter and processing.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Joe Walsh, said the ban was inevitable as foot and mouth can be carried in meat products entering the State.
He said: "I am strongly of the view that every available safeguard must be put in place to combat this disease."
The deep burial of waste from ships and aircraft will continue.
"At this juncture it is more important than ever that port and local authorities co-operate with the Department as much as possible in its drive to contain foot-and-mouth.
The British government has proposed a swill-feeding ban and has issued a public consultation document seeking the views of all interested parties on this.