Health risk assessment of the sale of wild boar meat

This assessment has been commissioned by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Background

Sweden has a large wild boar population, and wild boar migrate from Sweden into Norway. The Norwegian authorities aim to eradicate wild boar because of the risk of African swine fever and its potential consequences for agriculture. Eradication in Norway is to be achieved through hunting by private hunters and increasing numbers of wild boar are being shot in areas close to the Swedish border.

At present, meat from wild boar may only be consumed by the hunters themselves and their families. Hunters are not permitted to sell or give away the meat. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is now considering whether it should be made easier for hunters to place wild boar meat on the market.

However, wild boar can carry pathogenic organisms that may be transmitted to humans through handling or consumption of the meat. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has therefore asked VKM to conduct a risk assessment.

The assignment

In the risk assessment, VKM will compile available knowledge on relevant biological hazards associated with wild boar and wild boar meat, including bacteria, parasites and viruses that may pose a risk to public health. The assessment will also describe how handling, slaughter, processing, storage and preparation may affect the risk.

The assignment includes an assessment of risks associated with meat supplied directly from hunters to consumers or through local retail outlets. VKM will identify knowledge gaps and describe factors that may be important for the safe production and sale of wild boar meat in Norway.

The results will provide the Norwegian Food Safety Authority with an up-to-date scientific basis for further work on legislation, risk management and any measures that may be required in this area.

The project group consists of:

• Truls Nesbakken, member of the Panel on Biological Hazards (scientific lead)
• Morten Tryland, member of the Panel on Biological Hazards
• Ivar Vågsholm, member of the Panel on Biological Hazards
• Danica Grahek-Ogden, VKM Secretariat (project manager)

The risk assessment will be approved by the Panel on Biological Hazards.

Publication is planned for October 2027.