APHIS adds Newcastle Disease Clean program and game bird subpart to poultry disease plan.

October 1, 2020

2 Min Read
USDA updates National Poultry Improvement Plan
Baris KARADENIZ/iStock/Thinkstock

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) to align with changes in the poultry industry and to incorporate new scientific information and technologies into NPIP.

APHIS said these updates are consistent with recommendations that were approved by representatives from across the poultry industry at the 2018 NPIP Biennial Conference.

In this update, APHIS is:

  • Creating a new U.S. Newcastle Disease (ND) Clean program;

  • Updating low-pathogenic avian influenza regulations on indemnity and compensation;

  • Creating an NPIP subpart specific to the game bird industry, and

  • Clarifying and updating the program regulations to match current scientific information and technologies.

The ND Clean program and compartment status will focus on primary breeder egg-type chickens, meat-type chickens and turkeys — the animals that provide the foundation for the industry, APHIS said. Through the program, owners can show that their flocks meet all requirements to be considered unaffected by ND by both the official state agency and APHIS.

The agency explained that the requirements for ND Clean compartments are similar to those in the Avian Influenza Clean compartments. The ND Clean designation allows clean flocks to participate in international and interstate trade, even during an outbreak of ND, which benefits not only the flock involved but the overall industry by keeping trade flowing.

APHIS said the updates to the indemnity and compensation payments for low-pathogenic avian influenza detections reflect current policy and operational practices. The rule adds/clarifies definitions for various terms related to providing payments for animals, materials, cleaning and disinfection and other steps needed for infected farms to return to normal business.

APHIS noted that it is creating an NPIP subpart specific to game birds — an industry that has grown rapidly and become more complex since its inception — to align with the terminology, production methods and end uses in the industry, which are significantly different from those in other poultry industries. The new subpart adds testing regimes, terminology and programs designed specifically for the game bird industry.

APHIS said it made two changes to the proposed rule. The agency is in the process of standardizing fair market valuations across species, so the language was updated to remove the requirement to use indemnity calculators. APHIS also added a clarification explaining that a Virus Elimination calculator will not be used when the claimant and APHIS jointly agree that the Virus Elimination calculator is not applicable to the premises type.

The rule becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

NPIP is a cooperative federal/state/industry mechanism for controlling certain poultry diseases. Its objective is to provide a cooperative program through which new technology can be effectively applied to improve poultry and poultry products throughout the country. NPIP offers a variety of programs and identifies states, flocks, hatcheries, dealers and slaughter plants that meet disease control standards specified in the various NPIP programs.

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