UK: New direction for Zoonoses National Control Programme (ZNCP)

The Zoonoses National Control Programme (ZNCP) will, as of 1 July 2012, increase its efforts in delivering help to farmers identify the best salmonella control methods for their particular farm.

The current meat juice testing for salmonella antibodies will be suspended on 1 July 2012. This is to make way for an on-farm salmonella risk assessment tool which will help identify the most effective control methods for each producer’s set up.

“The new tool will provide farmers with clear information regarding the herd’s current salmonella risks,” explains Katrin Turvey, BPEX’s veterinary programme manager. “The farmer or veterinarian can use the outcomes of the risk assessment to create a meaningful on farm salmonella control plan, which is a requirement of red tractor assurance.”

These scored risk assessments, along with exploration into bacteriological testing, will increase understanding of the link between primary production and public health.

Turvey adds: “We are developing the programme to ensure that all stages of the supply chain are taking effective action to stop the spread of salmonella, re-focusing resources away from routine salmonella sampling.”

Because there are many parallels between the ZNCP and the Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP), the two schemes have now been streamlined under a ‘one health’ umbrella.

In its simplest terms: one action or management change on farm can often satisfy the aims of both schemes. For example, better rodent control, can improve pig health and at the same time reduce the risk to public health from pork consumption.