Schedules of Structural and Management Requirements in Hatcheries

Compartments for protection against avian influenza and Newcastle disease in poultry breeding companies in Great Britain

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs February 2013

OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 2011 edition.
“Compartment means an animal subpopulation contained within one or more establishments under a common biosecurity management system with a distinct health status with respect to specific diseases for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade”

Schedules for Structural and Management Requirements in Hatcheries

List of Schedules

1. Location and Physical Features of Compartment Premises
2. Personnel Entry to the Biosecure Zone
3. Vehicle Entry to the Compartment Premises
4. Entry of Hatching Eggs to Biosecure Zone
5. Entry of Packaging Materials and other supplies to Biosecure Zone
6. Despatch of Chicks from Approved Hatcheries
7. Disposal of Dead Chicks and Biological Waste
8. Monitoring of Hatch Data and Chick Viability
9. Heightened Risk Periods: Additional Precautions
10. Disinfection of Internal Areas and Fixed Equipment
11. Disinfection of Moveable Equipment
12. Disinfection of Company Vehicles
13. Rodent Control
14. Staff Training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Definitions:

The “biosecure zone” is the area at the core of the compartment premises to which high biosecurity standards apply. All personnel must undergo a whole body shower and change of clothing prior to entering the biosecure zone. There must be a biosecurity fence which defines the limits of the biosecure zone. The external walls of buildings may constitute part of the biosecurity fence.

The “compartment premises” means everything contained within the perimeter or boundary which is owned or leased by the company. At the core of the compartment premises is the biosecure zone. On the compartment premises but outside the biosecure zone there will be other, non-biosecure facilities such as a manager’s house, staff car park, vehicle wheel decontamination pad, etc.

The “company” means the company making the application for compartment status.

The “External Operator” means an independent rodent control company which has a contract with the compartment company to carry out rodent control on the compartment premises (Schedule 13).

Heightened Risk Period’ means any time when an outbreak of avian influenza or Newcastle disease has been confirmed within Great Britain; or when the hatchery falls within an EU protection, surveillance or restriction zone. (Schedule 9).

(Note that, regardless of compartment status, all premises will remain subject to general disease control regulations under national and EU legislation).
The “producer” means the enterprise producing and supplying the packaging materials (Schedule 5).

“Visitor” means any person who enters a biosecure zone who is not employed by the company to work at those premises as their principal work location. Note this means that a company employee whose principal work location is elsewhere is therefore defined as a visitor and must sign the visitor record accordingly. (Schedule 2).

Schedules

In all of the following schedules the Company must ensure that the listed structural requirements are met, and the company’s written management Protocols contain all of the listed provisions.

NOTE: The paragraphs in bold type apply only to the GB Enhanced Standard. Paragraphs in plain type apply to both the EU Standard and the GB Enhanced Standard.

1. Location and Physical Features of the Compartment Premises

A. Structural Features

1.1  There should be no features within 400 metres of the compartment premises which might attract large numbers of wild birds or waterfowl. Typical attractions would be open water, canals or rivers, free range poultry or hobby bird collections, zoological gardens, outdoor pig farms, landfill sites, rubbish tips, etc.

1.2  There should preferably be a ‘perimeter fence’ to define the limits of the compartment premises. At the core of the compartment premises is the biosecure zone.

1.3  The biosecure zone must be enclosed by a ‘biosecurity fence’ The external walls of the hatchery building will normally constitute the biosecurity fence. There may be rooms set into the hatchery building that do not form part of the biosecure zone, eg reception and offices, outdoor clothing changing room for personnel entering, or plant maintenance room. However there must be no direct access from these rooms into the biosecure zone apart from via the showers.

1.4  The hatchery buildings must be constructed of materials that are robust, moisture proof, and capable of being disinfected.

1.5  Surrounding the hatchery building there should be a concrete apron, specifically covering the working entrances and exits, and the walking areas between the buildings on the compartment premises.

1.6  All ventilation openings must be protected by structures designed to prevent the entry of wild birds.

B. Management Protocols

1.7 At compartment premises where the management has identified the presence of features in the vicinity that are likely to attract unusual numbers of wild birds or waterfowl, the management must produce a risk assessment and a management protocol to reduce the risk in a way that is appropriate to the risk assessment.

1.8  Where such attractants have been identified in the environs, management protocols must specify additional measures to ensure that faecal contamination does not persist on the ground within the compartment premises where it might present a risk, e.g. frequency of visual checks and use of hoses to clear contamination from concrete aprons around entrances, exits and walkways

1.9  Regardless of whether or not local bird attractants are present in the environs, management protocols must contain instructions to ensure that there are no attractants within the compartment premises, e.g. spilled bird feed, exposed dead carcases or broken eggs, etc.

1.10  Regardless of whether or not local bird attractants are present in the environs, management protocols must contain standing instructions to staff that no doors to the biosecure zone may be left open and unattended.

2. Personnel Entry to the Biosecure Zone

A. Structural Features

2.1  At the entry to the biosecure zone there must be a changing room and hygiene facility, equipped with showers.
The hygiene facility must be designed in such a way that it is not possible to pass without going through the shower. There should be a sequence of cubicles for leaving bags and footwear and removal of outdoor clothing, whole body shower, and putting on clean, dedicated indoor clothing.

2.2  The hygiene facility would normally be within the external walls of the hatchery. Thus it presents an exception to the rule that the external walls of the hatchery constitute the biosecurity fence. The room for removal of outdoor clothing and footwear must be classed as ‘dirty side’, and the biosecure zone should only begin at the shower cubicle.

B. Management Protocols

2.3  An agreement signed by every member of staff that they will not work with, keep, or have direct contact with any collection of poultry or hobby or pet birds, and will inform management prior to entering the biosecure zone if they have had such contact outside this compartment within the previous 72 hours.

2.4  A statement signed by every visitor that they have not visited, worked with, or had any other form of direct contact with poultry or hobby or pet birds, except for birds within this compartment, during the 72 hours prior to their visit to the biosecure zone.

2.5  A record in permanent and easily accessible form of the attendance of every staff member, and the presence of every visitor to the biosecure zone.

2.6  Instructions for the procedure of entry through the hygiene facility, leaving outside clothing and footwear and bags, whole body showering, and donning dedicated, clean indoor clothing.

2.7  Instructions to staff about controlling infection risk when bringing personal items (lunch boxes, mobile phones, newspapers etc) into the biosecure zone.

2.8  A procedure for disinfecting tools or equipment brought into the biosecure zone by outside maintenance workers, inspectors, etc.

2.9  A procedure to mitigate risk if it is necessary for emergency reasons for personnel to enter the biosecure zone with less than the prescribed 72 hours bird-free time.

2.10  Management protocols must contain instructions that if any person passes out of the biosecure zone for any reason, they must go through the full shower and clothing change procedure before re- entering.

3. Vehicle Entry to the Compartment Premises

A. Structural Features

3.1  Because vehicles visiting a hatchery do not normally pass into the biosecure zone, which is defined by the external walls of the hatchery building, it is not strictly essential for them to decontaminate wheels prior to entering onto the compartment hatchery premises. Nevertheless it is strongly advisable to have a wheel disinfection facility on site.

3.2  The area for the decontamination of wheels, mudflaps and wheel arches should meet the following requirements:
•  It must be clearly demarcated, by lines painted on the ground or a similarly understandable method.
•  The surface must be a concrete pad or similar which can be easily disinfected (porous surfaces such as gravel or hardcore are not acceptable).
•  Waste water must be controlled so that it does not contaminate the surrounding area.

3.3  The equipment for decontaminating the wheels etc must satisfy the following 3 requirements:
•  The water pressure must be adequate to remove mud from the wheels, mudflaps and wheel arches.
•  The equipment must deliver disinfectant to the wheels, mudflaps and wheel arches.
•  The equipment must be sufficiently flexible to direct the spray into the inaccessible recesses of the wheel arches.

B. Management Protocols

3.4  Procedure for a driver to contact the hatchery management to inform them that the vehicle has arrived on site.

3.5  If vehicles are required to enter the biosecure zone of the hatchery, or if management requires it as a standard procedure for any vehicle entering the hatchery premises (see paragraph 3.1 above):
Procedure for decontamination/disinfection of tyres, mud flaps and wheel arches within the designated area, which should specifically provide for removal of mud and application of disinfectant.

3.6  Record of decontamination/disinfection maintained on site and signed off by responsible member of staff for each vehicle visit.

3.7  Instructions to define and control the areas to which the driver has access.

3.8  How and where the record is kept of the vehicle visit, to show: date and time, owner of vehicle, registration of vehicle, driver name, cargo, last address visited, date and time of visit to last address, and manager’s confirmation of decontamination.

3.9  Disinfectants must be listed on the Poultry Orders list of the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) Order. The dilution rate must be at least as strong as that indicated on the list. The company’s contingency plans in the event of an outbreak of a notifiable disease in the UK should include a review and possible increase in the dilution strength.

4. Entry of Hatching Eggs to the Biosecure Zone

A. Structural Features

4.1. There must be a reception bay appropriately constructed to minimise the risk of introducing contamination to the biosecure zone whilst the doors are open. The design must be such that staff working inside the biosecure zone in the hatchery building do not have to come outside, and outside staff do not come into the biosecure part of the hatchery building.

B. Management Protocols

4.2. There must be a system for recording the source of all introduced eggs, and tracing their movement within the hatchery, and their destination on leaving. The system may be either paper based or electronic, and must be easily intelligible for an inspector.

4.3. Theprotocolmustspecifythevehiclesthatmaybeusedtotransport eggs into the approved hatchery; for example, only in vehicles that belong to, or are under a contract to, the company. The cargo compartment of the vehicles must be disinfected prior to loading.

4.4. Paragraphs 4.4.1 to 4.4.6 are intended to provide flexibility in breeding programmes and improve genetic variation by allowing hatching eggs from outside the Compartment to enter a Compartment hatchery. The rules are intended to ensure that this can be done without compromising the approved status of the hatchery. If a Compartment hatchery were to admit eggs of a lower or unproven health status without conforming with any of paragraphs 4.4.1. to 4.4.6, Defra would be obliged to withdraw approval from the hatchery.

No hatching eggs may be introduced to the hatchery unless they satisfy one of the conditions below, AND in any case the conditions of transport ensure that there is no risk of their contamination:

4.4.1. Either they have been derived directly from another approved premises within the same Compartment;

4.4.2. Or, in the case of hatchery in a GB Enhanced Compartment, the eggs have been derived from a flock farm which is an approved premises within another GB Enhanced Compartment;

4.4.3. Or, in the case of hatchery in a GB Enhanced Compartment, the eggs have been derived from a flock farm which is an approved premises within an approved Compartment in another country, AND the conditions of approval in that other country have been deemed by the AHVLA Poultry Compartment Project Manager to be fully equivalent to the conditions of the GB Enhanced Compartment scheme;

4.4.4. Or, in the case of a hatchery in a GB Enhanced Compartment, the eggs have been derived from a flock farm which is an approved member of a government supervised poultry health scheme in another country, AND the importation meets all the following conditions:

[i] Eggs must be disinfected promptly after farm collection, and again prior to setting, in accordance with methods recommended in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code. The recommended methods are:

– fumigation with formaldehyde, or
– spraying with or immersion in an egg shell disinfectant in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, or
– made hygienic by another method approved by the veterinary authorities

[ii] In order to demonstrate that the flocks of origin were free from NAI at the time when the eggs were laid, each flock of origin (airspace) must be tested at the 95/25% level (equivalent to 11 birds per airspace). The testing must take place during the period defined in paragraph [iii] below.

This level of testing applies as long as the country of origin is NAI free. If an outbreak of NAI has been confirmed in the country exporting the hatching eggs the testing must be increased to the 95/15% level (equivalent to 20 birds per airspace) until the country has regained its NAI free status according to OIE criteria.

[iii] Sampling of each flock of origin must take place not less than 7 days after the last day of egg collection, in order to allow sufficient time for seroconversion. It must also take place sufficiently early for results to be available (including further examination of false positives) prior to moving eggs from incubators to hatchers.

[iv] The testing laboratory must be officially approved by the competent authority of the export country, and must use a testing methodology that is approved by the same competent authority.

[v] False positive results may occasionally occur. The exporting company must have a written programme for avian influenza testing and for dealing with any doubtful or apparent positive results to confirm that they are indeed false.

[vi] Lab results including false positives, if any, and any confirmatory test results for each consignment of imported eggs must be reported to the Poultry Compartments Project Manager at AHVLA prior to moving eggs from incubators to hatchers.

[vii] The importing company is responsible for ensuring that it does not permit imported eggs to be moved out of the incubators into the hatchers before negative results, including confirmatory tests of false positives, have been received for the avian influenza tests for each flock of origin for that consignment. If any results are doubtful or positive the hatchery must not move the eggs out of the incubators, and must contact the Poultry Compartments Project Manager at AHVLA for further instructions.

[viii] Each flock of origin must either be subject to a vaccination programme for Newcastle disease, or else apply a serology testing programme for Newcastle disease similar to that for avian influenza.

[ix] The flock farm source of the eggs must be an approved member of a government supervised poultry health scheme in its own country.

[x] Before the commencement of imports of hatching eggs to a UK Compartment hatchery approved under the GB enhanced scheme the importing Compartment must provide Defra with the following

information and receive written confirmation from Defra that the details are acceptable. The same information, updated as necessary, must be provided and written agreement from Defra received at each approval re- inspection of the Compartment hatchery:

A written description of the biosecurity and avian influenza detection programme applied in each flock farm which proposes to export hatching eggs to the UK Compartment hatchery. The programmes must be similar in robustness to the GB enhanced scheme.

The avian influenza testing methodology used by the laboratory in the exporting country, including procedures for further testing of doubtful or apparent positive results.

A contingency plan to deal with a possible situation in which laboratory test results, or further test results of presumed false positives, are not yet available by the time when eggs are due to be transferred from the incubator to the hatcher.

[xi] Following each consignment of hatching eggs imported to a UK Compartment hatchery approved under the GB enhanced scheme, a signed statement from a qualified veterinarian in the exporting company must be received by the AHVLA Poultry Compartment Project Manager before the eggs are moved from incubators into hatchers. The veterinary statement must conform to the following model:

“ I,………..(name of veterinarian), being a qualified veterinarian working for
……………(company name and address) hereby certify as follows:

The consignment consists of…………(number) hatching eggs destined for despatch to…………………(name and address of destination) on……………(date)

The eggs were collected between …………(start date) and ……….(finish date) on the following farms…………………………(names and addresses of source farms)

Each of these source farms is a current, approved member of the following government supervised poultry health scheme ………………………………(name of health scheme)

The eggs were disinfected promptly after collection by a method recommended in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

On………….(date), being not less than 7 days after the last day of egg collection, blood samples were collected at random from at least 11 birds per airspace and tested serologically for avian influenza.

All the samples gave a negative result for avian influenza. In the case of samples which were re-tested because of a doubtful or positive titre, the re-test gave a negative result and the laboratory reports are attached. The number re-tested for this reason is ………….(number).

The testing laboratory and the test method are officially approved by the competent authority in …………………..(country of origin).

Each of the flocks of origin is subject to a programme of vaccination for Newcastle disease, and I have no reason to suspect the presence of Newcastle disease in any of the flocks.

Signed…………. Dated…………. Stamp……. Name and Address……………………………………………………… “

[xii] If at any time Defra or AHVLA receive information which indicates that the integrity of the importing Compartment is being compromised by the import of hatching eggs they may suspend the imports, and, if appropriate, may suspend the approval of the importing Compartment.

[xiii] If the country of origin has an NAI outbreak exports into the EU will be suspended according to EU Regulation 798/2008. Exports may subsequently be resumed from approved zones or compartments in the country of origin if the EU agrees to such zones or compartments. For the avoidance of any misunderstanding it is confirmed that Compartment arrangements cannot take precedence over existing EU disease control regulations, for the purpose of suspending or resuming trade .

4.4.5. Or, in the case of a UK hatchery in a Compartment within the UK which has been approved only under the EU Regulation 616/2009 but not under the GB Enhanced Scheme, the eggs have been derived from a flock farm which is an approved premises within another Compartment approved under the EU Regulation in either the UK or another EU Member State. In this case the chicks must be tested for AI after hatching as in paragraph 4.5.9. below;

4.4.6. Or they meet the quarantine arrangements described in paragraph 4.5. below.

Notes to paragraph 4.4. :
a. re 4.4.2. Within the UK all Compartments approved under the GB Enhanced Scheme are considered to be of an equal health standard.
b. re 4.4.3. and 4.4.4. These paragraphs would enable a GB Enhanced Compartment to admit eggs for example from the Republic of Ireland, France, Germany or the USA.
c. Paragraph 4.4.4. is consistent with the EU Regulation 616/2009, which states in Annex Part 3. 2. (b): Poultry and their eggs “entering any holding on

the Compartment must come from a holding having the same health status as regards avian influenza and/or be checked to ensure that they present no risk of introduction of avian influenza.”

4.5. QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS: the following paragraphs apply only to eggs introduced from a source outside a GB enhanced Compartment, which do NOT meet any of the conditions in paragraphs 4.4.1. to 4.4.5. above.

The externally sourced eggs and the resulting chicks must undergo quarantine and testing before they can be accepted as belonging to the Compartment.

Before the externally sourced eggs are introduced to the Compartment hatchery the Compartment management must produce written operating procedures covering paragraphs 4.5.1 to 4.5.12 below, and obtain written confirmation from the AHVLA Poultry Compartment Manager that they are acceptable.

4.5.1. Risk assessment by the importing Compartment to demonstrate that there is no possible risk of introduction of infection by the externally sourced eggs.

4.5.2. Procedure for ensuring that the source is disease free at the time of accepting its eggs: testing of the flocks of origin prior to delivery, independently verified biosecurity standards, etc.

4.5.3. Disinfection of the eggs at point of collection, and again prior to setting in incubators.

4.5.4. Procedures to keep the eggs separate and isolated on entry to the hatchery, through to their setting in incubators.

4.5.5. Incubators and hatchers dedicated to the out-sourced eggs. However the out-sourced eggs may be placed in incubators or hatchers together with compartment- sourced eggs, provided that all of them then undergo the same post-hatching quarantine procedures.

4.5.6. Procedures to keep the newly hatched chicks separate and isolated from all in-house chicks in the processing lines; recommended procedures would be to hatch on separate days, or to put the out- sourced chicks through the processing lines last, immediately prior to wash-down.

4.5.7. Procedure to place chicks on rearing premises in isolation from any other chicks, until they have completed at least 21 days quarantine with satisfactory clinical results.

4.5.8 Specify staffing arrangements, vehicle movement controls, and visitor controls on the rearing premises. Specifically:

[a] Staff responsible for the daily care of the imported birds in quarantine must not also work with other flocks during the post- import quarantine period.
[b] Company staff who need to visit the quarantine premises on an occasional basis during the quarantine period may only do so provided that:

[i] Prior to entering the premises they have observed the prescribed ‘bird-free’ time in the Company’s protocol, and undergone whole body showering and change of clothing before entry; and
[ii] On leaving the premises they change out of the premises clothing, undergo whole body showering, and do not enter any other Compartment premises until at least 3 nights have passed since leaving the quarantine premises.

[c] No visitors other than the above staff may enter the quarantine premises for the duration of the quarantine.

[d] Essential vehicle movements, such as feed delivery vehicles, may enter the biosecure zone at the quarantine premises provided that:
[i] The wheels are disinfected at the point of entry and again at the point of exit.

[ii] Drivers must disinfect their footwear or apply plastic foot covering at the point of entry, and do not go further from their vehicles than is strictly necessary for their delivery/collection function.

4.5.9. Laboratory tests to be carried out during the quarantine period to demonstrate the freedom of the chicks from AI viruses. An appropriate procedure would be serology or virology at least 7 days after hatching, which may follow the requirements of Commission Regulation 798/2008 (Annexes III and VIII) (as amended).

4.5.10. For Newcastle disease there must be EITHER similar testing carried out on the chicks, OR the parent flocks and the chicks must be vaccinated for ND.

4.5.11. If clinical observations during quarantine present any suspicion of AI or ND infection virology must be carried out on dead or diseased chicks in accordance with Commission Regulation 798/2008 (as amended).

4.5.12. Procedure to define the completion of quarantine and acceptance of the birds into the compartment. Recommended standard is full 21 days quarantine for the chicks post-hatching, and negative clinical findings and serology or virology results before acceptance.

5. Entry Of Packaging Materials And Other Supplies to the Biosecure Zone

A. Structural Features

5.1 There must be suitable storage facilities in the biosecure zone, appropriate for the type of item, where they can be kept clean and free from the risk of contamination by wild birds, vermin or dirt.

B. Management Protocols

5.2  The company’s risk assessment must be presented, giving reasons why the company considers the risk from each items to be negligible, or viricidal treatment to be unnecessary.

5.3  Give details of any appropriate disinfection or sterilisation treatment, e.g. target temperature and minimum time period, if relevant.
5.4  The item must be packed in suitable packaging which will protect it from contamination by birds, vermin or dirt.

5.5. The company must have a written arrangement with the producer of packing materials to confirm that:
•  ‘One-use’ packaging materials must be new, clean and unused.
•  Packaging materials must be delivered to the hatchery in wrapping which protects them from contamination.
•  The wrapping itself must also be clean and free from any contamination at the time of delivery into the hatchery.

6. Despatch of Chicks from Approved Hatcheries

A. Structural Features

6.1 There must be a loading out bay appropriately constructed to minimise the risk of introducing contamination to the biosecure zone whilst the doors are open. The design must be such that staff working inside the biosecure zone do not have to come outside, and outside staff do not come into the biosecure zone.

B. Management Protocols

6.2  Instructions regarding disinfection of vehicle cargo compartments prior to loading
6.3  Instructions about type and ownership of vehicles for transport, eg company’s own vehicles, or acceptable contract vehicles.

6.4  Protocol for procedures on the loading out bay to transfer loaded trolleys into vehicles.

7. Disposal of Dead Chicks and Biological Waste A. Structural Features

7.1  There must be a holding facility for dead chicks, broken eggs, and other biological waste which is securely enclosed so as not to attract wild birds and pests.

7.2  There may be an incinerator on the premises, or else the biological waste may be transported to a disposal facility away from the premises.

B. Management Protocols

7.3  Protocol for the storage of dead chicks and other biological waste pending its removal for post mortem exam, incineration or disposal.
7.4  If there is an incinerator on site, protocol for its use. If it is located outside the biosecure zone, a staff member who visits it must shower and change clothing before re-entry to the biosecure zone.

7.5  If incineration takes place on site, instructions for checking that all the biological matter is totally rendered to ash, leaving nothing that could attract pests.

8. Monitoring of Hatch Data and Chick Viability

Management Protocols

8.1  Written procedure to be followed by hatchery manager for recording of hatch figures and chick viability for every batch of eggs.

8.2  Specify how and where the daily record shall be kept.

8.3  Specify normal ranges of hatch and viability rates to be expected.

8.4  Action levels: specify level of substantial and unexplained departure from the expected ranges which must trigger an immediate report to company vet or other higher management level. Specify to whom report must be directed, and alternatives in case of absence.

9. Heightened Risk Period: Extra Precautions

Management Protocols

9.1 Visitors: If an HPAI outbreak has occurred within 50 kms of the premises within the past 3 months, all visitors should be prohibited, except those that are essential for the operation of the hatchery . Routine maintenance by outside personnel must be suspended. However the visit ban shall not apply to official visits by officers of the veterinary authorities for the purposes of disease control or other statutory functions.
9.2  Vehicles: all vehicle entry to the compartment premises should be prohibited, except those that are essential for the operation of the hatchery. Company vehicles on egg collection journeys should be routed through areas well away from the suspect or infected zones. A risk assessment should be made and if appropriate additional decontamination procedures should be applied to all vehicles which have to come onto the compartment hatchery premises.

9.3  Staff and Equipment Movements between separate Compartment premises: all movements to be banned except where absolutely necessary. Separate premises to be treated as far as possible as isolated units.

9.4  Risk Assessment to the whole Compartment: in the case of compartments comprising more than one approved premises, the entire structure of the compartment must be reviewed to assess increased levels of risk to other approved premises within it, and appropriate measures taken.

10. Disinfection of Internal Areas and Fixed Equipment

Management Protocols

10.1  Written instructions must specify the areas to which they apply, e.g. incubators, hatchers, chick processing lines, reception bays, loading out bays, specified fixed equipment.

10.2  Description of physical procedures for litter and dust removal, de- greasing, washing, disinfecting, and drying out.
10.3  Specify disinfectant type, and concentration, and method of application.

10.4  Specify routine maintenance procedures to be conducted during ‘down time’.

11. Disinfection of Moveable Equipment

Management Protocols

11.1 Specify the items of equipment concerned, e.g. egg trays and trolleys for transport of eggs from farms to hatchery.

11.2  Specify the location of the cleaning procedure (there may be different locations and processes for different types of equipment).

11.3  Detail of the disinfection procedure.

11.4  Specify the type of disinfectant and its concentration

11.5  Specify the place and method for storing the equipment after disinfection and prior to use, so that it is protected from contamination.

12. Disinfection of Company Vehicles

Management Protocols

12.1  Specify the location of the vehicle disinfection facility.

12.2  Specify the cleaning procedure of the external parts; the wheels, mudflaps and wheel arches are critically important.

12.3  Specify the type and concentration of disinfectant for external parts.

12.4  Specify the cleaning procedure for the cargo compartment.

12.5  Specify the type and concentration of disinfectant for the cargo compartment.

12.6  Specify the cleaning procedure for the driver’s cab; the foot wells are especially important.

12.7  Specify the type and concentration of disinfectant for the driver’s cab.

13. Rodent Control

Management Protocols

13.1  Specify who is responsible for rodent control operations on site. It may be company employees, or an external operator. If the latter, there must be a written contract with the operator which covers the details below as a minimum.

13.2  Number and location of bait sites.

13.3  Type of bait.

13.4  Frequency at which bait sites are checked.

13.5  Describe responses which will be initiated if there is evidence of increasing rodent activity.

14. Staff: Training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Management Protocols

14.1  A written programme for induction training of newly engaged staff.

14.2  A written schedule of the biosecurity issues to be covered during induction training.

14.3  A written schedule of the critical control points to be highlighted during induction training.

14.4  Details of any relevant biosecurity external qualifications which staff will be required to study and attempt, e.g. NVQs.

14.5  Details of any in-service top up training that staff are required to undergo.

14.6  Specific SOPs to be provided and individually tailored to each area of work.