The NFU is urging small turkey producers to register for an exemption to the National Control Plan for Salmonella as soon as possible.
What is the National Control Plan for salmonella?
The National Control Programme (NCP) for Salmonella in turkey flocks is a programme to reduce/control the prevalence of Salmonella in turkeys across all EU member states.
The NCP for turkeys sets out the monitoring and controls producers must follow to reduce and/or control the flock prevalence of Salmonella. For the turkey NCPs the EU target is that Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST), including the monophasic variants (mST), must be reduced to 1% or less positive flocks out of the total number of flocks tested per year.
The NCP requires specific control measures following the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium in order to protect human health.
Who does the NCP apply to?
- Breeders with over 250 turkeys
- Fatteners with over 500 birds
If you have between 500 and 10,000 turkeys you can apply for an exemption.
You can apply for an exemption if you are a turkey fattener in Great Britain with an annual throughput of between 500 and 10,000 turkeys and are able to demonstrate that they only supply locally.
Owners of such holdings can apply to APHA each year for an exemption from the requirement to carry out their own Food business operator (FBO) sampling, hereafter referred to as “Operator sampling”. However, any holdings that are granted such an exemption will still be subject to official sampling if selected as a part of the 10% of holdings selected at random and voluntary sampling is recommended so that flock-owners can be aware of their Salmonella status and take appropriate measures.
How do I register?
Further information on registration is available from your local APHA office.