Biosecurity protocols in routine situations, vigilance and emergencies for all stakeholders in the Quebec poultry sector
The EQCMA is implementing biosecurity protocols to raise awareness among all stakeholders in the Quebec poultry sector of their application in routine situations, vigilance or health emergencies. These protocols are included in a health emergency response plan developed in collaboration with the EQCMA’s various partners in order to collaborate with government authorities in the surveillance, prevention and response to targeted poultry diseases. The measures included in these protocols are recommendations from the EQCMA that aim to prepare a poultry production site for the prevention and effective management of diseases of importance under its management (infectious laryngotracheitis and Mycoplasma gallisepticum mycoplasmosis) or reportable (low pathogenic avian influenza of H5 or H7 strains, avian influenza highly pathogenic, virulent form of Newcastle disease, typhosis and pullorosis) under the responsibility of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
THE THREE LEVELS OF BIOSECURITY
- Routine biosecurity (green level)
These measures are intended to be always applied to prevent the introduction or spread of any disease on poultry production sites. These protocols are the basis of all interventions by the EQCMA, both for major diseases under its management and for reportable diseases. Intervention protocols for the management of major diseases specifically describe their use and any other complementary measures for the specific control of a targeted disease.
- Biosecurity in a situation of vigilance (yellow level)
These measures target periods when the risk of contagion of major or reportable diseases is increased due to their presence in domestic or wild birds. Their application is requested by the EQCMA to prevent the introduction of these diseases on poultry production sites.
- Biosecurity in Emergencies (Orange Level)
These measures limit the spread of diseases reportable to the CFIA. The EQCMA may request the application of the protocols as soon as a reportable disease is suspected at a poultry production site, pending or under investigation by the CFIA, or at any time when one of these diseases is identified as a risk to poultry production sites located in each area.
