Historic law opens the door to wild boar meat sales in Río Negro

Río Negro’s legislature has approved a new provincial meat law that could allow the sale of wild boar meat, after incorporating wildlife products into the rules governing slaughter, processing, transport and marketing.

The authority responsible for implementing the law will decide which species qualify, but wild boar and guanaco are expected to be included. The measure, promoted by the provincial government, passed by a majority after legislators debated differences over some of its articles.

The new framework is designed to cover producers and businesses of different sizes, from small facilities to industrial plants. It also addresses situations that previously lacked specific regulation, including family consumption and new categories for artisanal slaughter facilities.

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A regulation that incorporates several of the proposals put forward by the organization to update the regulatory framework, facilitate producers’ activities, and strengthen food health and safety.

The Federation of Rural Societies of Río Negro welcomed the approval. Its president, Leandro Ballerini, said it was “a regulation that incorporates several of the proposals put forward by the organization to update the regulatory framework, facilitate producers’ activities, and strengthen food health and safety.”

The change has particular importance for wild boar, an invasive exotic species that rural organizations say creates environmental and production problems in Río Negro and other parts of Patagonia. Ballerini said the law resulted from long-term work with the provincial Livestock Secretariat and other agencies, modernizing outdated rules and recognizing production realities that had not previously been covered.

One notable provision creates a legal framework for producers to transport meat for family consumption from rural properties to towns. Producers must be formally registered and have the required identification mark, while the products must travel with a health seal in a sealed vehicle, separate from substances that could cause contamination. A noncommercial transit guide must list the origin and destination, species, product type and quantity, issue date and vehicle. Transport cannot exceed 48 hours from issuance, and the guide must be validated at the first police or health checkpoint along the route.

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It is the result of long-term work with the Livestock Secretariat and other provincial agencies. The law modernizes rules that had become outdated and recognizes production realities that had not previously been covered.