NEWS RELEASE
Date: 1 February 2008
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Legislation introduced for Salmonella National Control Programme
Legislation to support a Salmonella National Control Programme (NCP) in laying flocks of domestic fowl comes into force today (1 February).
The aim of the NCP is to further reduce the levels, in laying flocks, of the two most important types of Salmonella for human health, Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) by 10% each year for the next three years from a baseline established following a survey in 2006.
In this survey, UK levels of SE and ST were found to be among the lowest of the major egg producing Member States, with SE or ST present on 8% of laying flock holdings.
From today, keepers of laying flocks will be required to follow a sampling and testing programme set out in the NCP to establish the prevalence of Salmonella on-farm.
The NCP requires that from 2009, eggs from flocks confirmed to be infected with SE or ST cannot appear as fresh shell eggs at retail. Such eggs may not be used for human consumption unless treated to eliminate Salmonella, i.e. heat treated or pasteurised.
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Alick Simmons, said:
"The UK egg laying industry has worked hard, including through voluntary measures, to control Salmonella as demonstrated by the low levels reported following the EU survey. However, we believe that with the support of industry the National Control Programme can further enhance the reputation, quality and safety of UK egg production.
"I would encourage producers to seek expert advice from their vet or Animal Health or the Veterinary Laboratories Agency as to how to meet the control measures, and as always to monitor their flocks and take action to reduce the risk of infection."
Notes to editors
1. The Control of Salmonella in Poultry Regulations 2007 is available at: www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/pdf/uksi_20073574_en.pdf
2. Guidance on the requirements of the NCP is included in a revised Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Salmonella in Commercial laying flocks. This can be downloaded from: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/ncp.htm
3. By February 2008 all Member States are expected to have implemented a National Control Programme which meets the requirements of EU legislation. This is intended to ensure that coherent action to reduce Salmonellas of human health significance is taken across the Community and progress on achieving the reduction targets set for each Member State can be assessed more easily.
4. Following approval by the European Commission of the UK’s overall approach to controlling Salmonella in laying flocks, in July 2007 Defra consulted on proposals to introduce a National Control Programme for Salmonella in Laying flocks from February 2008. Details of the consultation are available at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ncp-layingflocks/index.htm
5. Laying hens are defined as birds of the species Gallus gallus kept for the production of eggs for human consumption. A nation-wide survey, which required the sampling of the environment of commercial laying flock holdings, was carried out in 2004 2005. The observed prevalence for Salmonella showed that SE and ST were found on 8% of layer flock holdings in the United Kingdom. This result provides the starting baselines against which the target will be judged. Similar surveys took place across all EU Member States and the average prevalence for SE or ST in laying flock holdings was 20.4%.
6. Member States with the highest prevalence figures in the baseline survey will be required to reduce their levels most quickly. The UK was in the group with low prevalence levels so has been set a more modest year-on-year improvement target. Prevalence in the UK will need to be reduced by 10% of the baseline figure each year from the start of 2008. The baseline figure for UK was 8.0%.
7. EU Regulation 2160/2003 provides a framework for the National Control Programme and details the phases of production which sampling and testing for Salmonella must cover. Regulation (EC) 1168/2006 establishes the details of obligatory sampling and testing in each Member State and imposes reduction targets for each country.
8. The UK’s Control of Salmonella in Poultry Order 2007 sets out the specific sampling requirements of the National Control Programme for Salmonella in laying flocks. The instrument also requires operators of laying flocks to provide the Secretary of State with certain information relating to those flocks, and imposes record-keeping requirements. The legislation is available at: www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/pdf/uksi_20073574_en.pdf
9. The Control of Salmonella in Poultry Order 2007 also revokes and remakes monitoring, controls, reporting and record keeping requirements for breeding flocks implemented by The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries (England) Order 2007. Parallel legislation will be brought forward in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
10. Salmonella is a common cause of food poisoning in humans and can cause serious illness. There are hundreds of types of Salmonella with varying importance in terms of their risk to human health. Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) are the two most important types of Salmonella in relation to the number of reported laboratory confirmed cases in humans. The full report is available at: www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178620761896.htm
11. An amendment to Regulation (EC) 2160/2003 has introduced a requirement that from 1 January 2009 eggs from flocks confirmed to be infected with SE or ST must not go for direct human consumption unless they have undergone heat treatment to eliminate Salmonella;i.e., sale of fresh shell eggs from these flocks will not be permitted. Further UK legislation may be brought forward to enforce this requirement. In addition from November 2007 this requirement has applied to laying flocks which are confirmed to be linked to a foodborne outbreak of Salmonellosis in humans.
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Page published: 1 February 2008