POULTRY

Do egg collection workers sanitize their hands prior to handling eggs and between handling floor eggs and nest eggs?

A written work instruction shall be in place.

Are hatching eggs marked in accordance with local legislation where defined, or with a code that refers back to the breeding farm?

Defined in Control Point.

Is each trolley marked with the breeder farm and the date laid?

Defined in Control Point

Are egg collection records complete?

Written records shall include: 1. Quantities recovered; 2. Quantity of floor eggs; and 3. Rejected egg count.

Are all outgoing eggs from breeder flocks certified Mycoplasma
Gallisepticum free and is the Mycoplasma Synovia status known?

Certificate and declaration of status shall be present respectively.

Has the hatchery appointed responsible persons for the following areas: 1. Health & Safety Officer,  2. Site First Aider, 3. a poultry specialist vet, and 4.
a Chick Welfare Officer?

Is the mycoplasma synovia status of all incoming eggs from breeder flocks known?

Declaration of status should be available.

Is a differentiation maintained between “clean” and “dirty” areas?

A written procedure and clearly marked areas with dedicated clothing shall be present. Workers shall be aware of these requirements and be provided
with dedicated protective clothing and footwear which shall be changed when moving from dirty to clean areas. Equipment shall be segregated between “clean” and “dirty” areas.

Is the incubation hatcher and setter equipment easy to clean, in good
working order and sealed to the floor?

Defined in Control Point.

Do hatcheries have a dedicated egg store and a designated incubation room?

Defined in Control Point.

Are eggs stored in an environmentally controlled (temperature and humidity)
store room?

Defined in Control Point.

Are hatching eggs identifiable at all times?

Traceability records shall be available per tray including the following information: 1. farm of origin and 2. date of lay. Floor eggs shall be labeled and stored separately.

Do hatcheries retain production records for each consignment of eggs?

Production records shall include the following: 1. farm of origin, 2. date of
lay, 3. date of collection and vehicle identity, 4. setting date, 5. setter
number, 6. transfer date, 7. hatcher number, 8. chick and cull numbers
(hatchability), 9. transport records, and 10. placement details.

Are loading areas level, well drained and hygienically managed?

Defined in Control Point.

Do the drinker design and positioning ensure that spillage of water onto the litter is minimized?

Visual assessment at time of audit and evaluation of the litter quality under the drinkers shall confirm compliance. There shall be only minimal evidence of water spillage.

Does the water supply conform to the quality of water intended for human  consumption?

Records of annual analysis shall be available. Requirements shall be based on water legislation for human consumption in the country of production.

Are water meters connected to all birds’ drinking systems and records made of daily consumption? Is corrective action taken where normal drinking patterns are disrupted?

Records of daily consumption and evidence of corrective action shall be kept.

Are header tanks covered, are their outlets at the bottom, and are they
hygienically managed?

Visual assessment

Do the roof, ceiling and walls have sealed joints? Are asphalt floors sealed?

Defined in the Control Point and shall be confirmed by visual assessment.

Does the farmer take independent expert advice on the design and facilities of all new controlled (enclosed) poultry houses, or when existing houses are being refurbished?

Records of independent expert advice on design of new facilities should be available.

A house chart with relevant information and recordings of the following should be available:

Daily:
- Abnormal behavioral observations
- Observation of huddling, panting
- Litter quality score (according to welfare quality assessment or
equivalent objective assessment method)

Daily for specific periods:
- Records on ammonia in the last week of the growing cycle
- Records on carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels in the
first two weeks of the growing cycle

Does all poultry accommodation provide sufficient space to allow
unrestricted access by stock people for the purposes of inspection and
removal of sick or injured birds?

Visual assessment and written stocking density calculations for each building shall ensure compliance.

Is the maximum stocking density for broiler breeders adhered to in
accordance with local legislation?

Written calculation of stocking density for breeder birds shall be available.

Does the production establishment have a written and implemented
ventilation plan detailing air quality parameters, ventilator capacities, airflow speed, temperature and back-up systems?

Written ventilation plan shall be in place and implemented, detailing air quality parameters, ventilator capacities (m3 of air/hr), airflow speed, house temperature and back-up systems. Demonstration of computer-controlled system as evidence is acceptable.

Does each site have a policy (written/verbal) for the recognition of heat or cold stress, and procedures that are to be followed in such an event? Are all stock persons familiar with the contents of this policy and apply it accordingly?

Written/verbal policy shall be available and workers shall demonstrate knowledge of how to apply the policy.

Are air quality parameters (e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide) measured and recorded on a weekly basis along with defining sampling timing (i.e. midday, night time, etc.)? Are these records available to be reviewed by the attending veterinary surgeon within the VHP?

Air quality parameters should be recorded weekly with sample timing and be available to the veterinary surgeon.

Are the lighting patterns for each house recorded and available for review by the attending veterinary surgeon?

Records of light levels should be made available to the veterinary surgeon.

Is the lighting system capable of providing 100 lux for cleaning purposes?

Visual evidence on inspection should ensure compliance.

Do birds kept in free-range systems have access to range for a minimum of eight hours each day except when the natural daylight period is less? Are all popholes normally open for this time, except when this is precluded by inclement weather conditions?

For free range systems in summer conditions, is a shaded area accessible, which has sufficient space so that the chickens do not have to crowd together (thereby risking further heat stress)?

Shaded area for 10 percent of the flock shall be available, as confirmed by written calculation.

Records of the daily checking of equipment shall be available. Evidence of prompt repair of defects or other appropriate measures shall be provided.
“Automatic equipment” means automated or mechanical equipment, the failure of which will cause the livestock to suffer unnecessary distress unless
the failure is rectified or other provisions are made for the care of livestock.
Where a defect is found in the automatic equipment (whether on inspection of the equipment in accordance with this paragraph or at any time), the following shall ensue:
1. The defect shall be rectified forthwith, or

2. If this is impracticable, such
measures shall be taken and maintained until the defect is rectified as are required to safeguard the birds from suffering unnecessary pain or
unnecessary distress as a result of the defect.

Are the health parameters recorded and reviewed in association with the VHP

Records shall include the following:

1. Daily recording of all deaths and culls. The suspected reason for death or culling (e.g. lameness or heat stress) shall also be recorded.
2. Flock performance data (e.g. growth rates) that enable a health problem to be detected.
3. Level and type of condemnations in slaughter stock. These records shall identify suspected catching injuries and those birds that are dead on arrival.

Do all individual houses operate an “all in-all out” system for chickens so that birds are in the same age group?

Records shall demonstrate last birds out, first birds in.

Are farm cats, dogs or domestic pets excluded from all poultry
accommodation?

Visual assessment shall ensure the exclusion of cats, dogs or domestic
pets.

Do workers keep or have contact with other poultry or any other avian
species?

Documentary evidence shall ensure that workers are informed that they may
not keep poultry on their own account.

A written policy for the production establishment have to  covers the following:

1. Provision of protective clothing and footwear for visitors
2. A record of all visitors, vehicles and material supplies entering the
establishment
3. Provision of disinfectant and other precautions to prevent the introduction 
of disease
4. Clearly visible signed restricted areas and points of danger
5. The number of ‘poultry-free days’ required before the production
establishment may be entered by visitors
6. Assessment of veterinary health risk associated with entry onto the
production establishment of people, vehicles and other equipment, and of feed, bedding and other material supplies, and the devising of appropriate precautions within the context of the VHP
7. Appropriate management of hygiene at the point of exit of birds from the production establishment

Is an emergency power supply source available for emergency ventilation systems?

Defined in the Control Point.

Is the emergency power supply or emergency ventilation system tested monthly and records kept of these tests? 

Records of tests shall be available and equipment shall be in working order.

Are poultry dispatched from the production establishment in a calm, clean and rested condition?

Observation of workers knowledge and action shall ensure compliance.

Is a level, well-drained loading area available for the loading and unloading of birds, chicks and eggs? Is it clean, tidy and hygienically managed?

Defined in Control Point.

Are noise levels, from all sources, minimized during loading?

Assessment of loading or staff to demonstrate awareness.

Is the manager or stock person responsible for the birds present at
depopulation, and does the manager or stock person responsible for the birds ensure the flock is fit to travel?

Defined in Control Point.