February 7, 2008

UK implements new law in a bid to control salmonella

A new legislation by the British government will mandate poultry farmers to take steps to assess levels of salmonella in their flocks.

This new law requires that UK laying flock farmers should follow a sampling and testing programme set out in a National Control Programme (NCP) to establish the prevalence of salmonella on-farm.

According to British daily Farmers Guardian, the programme targets to reduce incidence of salmonella enteritidis (SE) and salmonella typhimurium (ST) by 10 percent annually for the next three years from a baseline established following an EU-wide survey in 2006.

The NCP requires that, as of 2009, eggs from flocks confirmed to be infected with SE or ST should not be considered as fresh shell eggs at retail. Additionally, such eggs may not be used for human consumption unless administered with salmonella treatment.

In a survey, UK levels of SE and ST were found to be among the lowest of the major egg producing member states, with one or the other present on 8 percent of laying flock holdings. This compares with an average across all member states of 20.4 percent.

Deputy chief veterinary officer, Alick Simmons said the NCP "can further enhance the reputation, quality and safety of UK egg production."

All Member States are expected to have implemented a NCP this month, which meets the requirements of the EU legislation.