Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 4/15/19
USDA’s Animal ad Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in the Federal Register that the agency is seeking comments on proposed changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), a cooperative federal-state-industry mechanism for controlling certain poultry diseases.
NPIP’s General Conference Committee made changes to the NPIP program standards align them with the latest science, technology and best practices. The plan identifies states, flocks, hatcheries, dealers, and slaughter plants that meet certain disease control standards specified in the plan's various programs.
The proposed updates would amend the standards by:
• Adding and amending definitions of H5/H7 low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) (exposed) and H5/H7 LPAI (infected);
• Clarifying and amending the testing protocol for Mycoplasma;
• Allowing use of molecular-based examination procedures to screen for Mycoplasma;
• Removing specific agar gel immunodiffusion Avian Influenza testing procedures with directions to use the current National Veterinary Services Laboratories protocol;
• Amending and clarifying salmonella isolation procedures;
• Updating and clarifying bacteriological examination procedures for cull chicks and poults for salmonella;
• Adding a new salmonella diagnostic test kit;
• Removing outdated testing procedures for the sanitation monitored program;
• Updating and clarifying hatching egg and hatchery sanitation requirements;
• Updating and clarifying flock sanitation procedures;
• Updating and clarifying cleaning and disinfecting procedures;
• Adding new dealer sanitation requirements;
• Updating and clarifying compartmentalization language as well as amending and clarifying audit guidelines and checklists; and
• Adding Newcastle disease virus compartmentalization physical requirements for an egg depot receiving/shipping dock.
APHIS will consider all comments received on or before May 13.
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