Pigmeat Inspection in Australia: An Economic Analysis of the Human Health Benefits

Abstract

The inspection of pig carcases during slaughtering operations is a legislative requirement to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of meat entering the human food chain. Advances in the scientific knowledge of diseases of pigs transmissible to man (zoonoses) suggests that most visible pathology found in pig carcases poses a negligible human health threat. Moreover, the compulsion to meet inspection standards set by importing countries may result in an inspection system which is divorced from the health status of pigs in Australia and does not target diseases important in terms of human health. Consequently, the net benefits (in a human health context) of the system may be open to improvement. In this study, a conceptual economic framework to analyse the human health benefits of alternative pigmeat inspection systems is constructed. The scientific basis for the current pigmeat inspection system is reviewed and three alternative inspection systems are suggested, based upon the perceived human health significance of diseases commonly encountered in pigs at the abattoir. A benefit-cost analysis of the current versus the alternative systems is undertaken. The results suggest that, in a human health context, net benefits could be improved with a less intense inspection system. It appears likely that current inspection procedures are outdated in their ability to detect some microscopic carcase pathology which represents a true human health threat. Rather, the procedures target macroscopic pathology which is no longer considered to be a consumer health hazard. Furthermore, the necessity to have inspectors closely examine macroscopic pathology increases their risk of infection in the abattoir. Suggestions are made regarding the future direction of pigmeat inspection and areas of research priority are identified.