Welsh salmonella programme

- Published: 26 March, 2008

A national programme to protect public health from salmonella in laying flocks of domestic fowl will come into force in Wales this month.

The programme, announced by Rural Affairs minister Elin Jones, will include updating and enhancing existing controls to reduce the number of cases in salmonella in poultry by 10% annually.

"The proposed regulations will provide a framework for the National Control Programme (NCP) that details the phases of production which sampling and testing for the salmonellas must cover," said Jones.

"The programme will set a target for an annual reduction of at least 10% in the number of positive adult laying flocks, compared with the previous year. The starting baseline in Wales and for the rest of the UK, will be 8% prevalence of salmonella enteritidis and salmonella typhimurium serotypes."

The results of a nationwide survey of commercial laying flocks carried out in 2004 -2005 showed that around 8% of layer flock holdings in the United Kingdom (UK) were infected with salmonella enteritidis or salmonella typhimurium.

Although this demonstrates good progress of industry led initiatives to reduce salmonella prevalence in laying flocks, work needs to be done to reduce the level further and minimise the possible impact of the heat treatment requirement on producers.

"The NCP will enable the laying flocks sector to build on its success in the protection of human health and benefit from producers across the EU applying approaches that are consistent and comparable," Jones added.

For further information on the Regulations please email endemics@wales.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 02920 825737.