The aim of the study was to investigate the decontamination of pig slurry containing exotic viruses of pigs, foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV). Laboratory-scale decontamination experiments showed that FMDV, ADV and CSFV were heat inactivated in slurry within 3 min at 67 degreesC, 3 min at 62 degreesC and 3 min at 60 degreesC and in Glasgow Eagles medium within 5 min at 67 degreesC, 4 min at 65 degreesC and 2 min at 65 degreesC, respectively. At pilot scale, FMDV was heat inactivated at 66 degreesC in water and 61 degreesC in slurry, ADV at 61 degreesC in water or slurry and CSFV at 62 degreesC in water and 50 degreesC in slurry. Treatment of pig slurry for the inactivation of exotic viruses may be achieved through the use of a thermal pilot plant operating in continuous mode. The work demonstrates the suitability of thermal treatment in ensuring the safety of pig slurry following a disease outbreak.