Defra

Legislation giving the Government powers to survey levels of Salmonella in turkey flocks (breeding and fattening) and herds of slaughter pigs in England came into force on 17 November 2006.

The Salmonella in Turkey Flocks and Herds of Slaughter Pigs (Survey Powers) (England) Regulations 2006 will provide for powers of entry and sampling needed to carry out work required by the European Commission Decisions 2006/662/EC (turkeys) and 2006/668/EC (pigs). The Regulations also contain provisions requiring producer co-operation with the provision of assistance, information and documentation (including records) which the sampling officer may reasonably require.

In October Defra began a 12 month survey of turkey flocks and of slaughter pigs for the presence of Salmonella. These surveys are required by European Commission Decision 2006/662/EC and aim to establish Salmonella levels across the community.

The turkey survey, which has been extensively discussed with industry bodies
requires that all breeding flocks (houses) of turkeys on holdings containing more than 250 breeding birds should be sampled once only during the nine weeks prior to depopulation; and one flock of fattening turkeys should be sampled on holdings containing at least 500 fattening birds once during the three weeks prior to final depopulation. The holdings have been selected on a random basis according to the survey protocol.

Operators selected for the survey will be contacted by their local Animal Health Office (AHO). The AHO sampling officer will collect faeces samples using boot swabs and with the operator’s assistance complete a compulsory and supplementary questionnaire about the sampled flock. Both these questionnaires require information about the production system used that will be of great value in identifying factors associated with the presence or absence of infection on poultry units. Normally within two weeks of the samples being taken, the operator will be notified of the results by the AHO.

If Salmonella is identified in the samples taken turkey farmers will be able to obtain advice, if required, from a veterinary surgeon at the local regional Veterinary laboratory [in Scotland advice from a veterinary surgeon from State Veterinary Service]. If the Salmonella serotype is one recognised as being of major public health significance, there will be an advisory visit from the local VLA regional laboratory (Animal Health Divisional Office in Scotland). These actions are intended to discuss and advise on Salmonella control on the farm so that the risk of Salmonella in future flocks can be reduced.

Defra believes that this survey will enable the poultry industry to build on its already considerable progress in the promotion of consumer confidence in the UK poultry industry. Many operators already sample their turkeys on a regular basis for Salmonella and know the situation on their holding. This survey is designed to ensure that sampling methods are identical in all member states and that the results are truly comparable.

The pig survey requires the collection of samples from slaughter pigs from selected slaughter houses. To meet the requirements of the Commission’s technical specifications the survey requires the collection of carcass swabs and tissue samples from a total of 600 pig carcasses at eighteen UK slaughterhouses. Operators are required to assist with the provision of relevant data such as the slaughterhouse capacity and origin of the carcases.

The surveys, which are supported by industry bodies will not only determine the prevalence of Salmonella in UK turkey flocks and slaughter pigs, but in all countries in the EC. They should enable UK producers to assess current Salmonella monitoring and successfully develop existing controls to safeguard and build on the reputation of their industry.

Data from the surveys will be used by the Commission to set Community targets for the reduction of the prevalence of Salmonella of human health significance In turkeys and slaughter pigs. Targets have already been set for poultry laying and breeding flocks.

Industry representative groups including the National Farmers Union, British Poultry Council, the British Pig Association, the British Pig Executive and the British Meat Processors Association have been extensively consulted on the objectives and logistics of the survey work. These organisations have agreed to encourage their members to co-operate with the survey work.

For the collection of samples from slaughter pigs the Veterinary Laboratories Agency recently undertook “pilot” visits to all selected slaughterhouses to ensure that both their staff and government inspectors were able to conduct the sampling work according to the survey protocol.

The samples from both surveys will be tested at a Government Laboratory (VLA Weybridge) and the results passed to Defra for collation into a report, which will be submitted to the European Commission. It should be noted that names and addresses connected to the holdings and slaughterhouses will not be passed on to the Commission.

An article concerning the turkey survey has been circulated to industry bodies explaining the purpose and requirements of the survey work. Relevant information on the pigs survey has been circulated to industry by the Food Standards Agency.