HACCP based biosecurity plan for a laying hen farm

The biosecurity plan is an important part of health control measures to protect the flocks and individual hens against pathogens.
The biosecurity plan based on the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles offers the best assurance that commercial egg industry flocks are protected against serious disease outbreaks.
That is also the best way to ensure the food safety of the egg production.
The basic procedures of the biosecurity plan include both aspects related to laying hens’ welfare conditions, bird health and aspects related to the food safety.
Another major issue is the the prevention of emergency diseases, as follow : Newcastle Disease virus (the highly virulent strains), avian Influenza, infectious bursal disease, and Salmonella spp. infections (Salmonella enteritidis).

The critical monitoring points identified are:

1. Entry of chicks (at 15-16 weeks of age), equipment, vehicles, people and feed into pullet farms
2. Entry of adult fowls, equipment, vehicles, people and feed into egg production farms
3. The presence of wild bird and rodent faeces in sheds or where hens and pullets range
4. Water sanitation on farms using surface water
5. Disposal systems for dead birds, reject eggs, litter and manure from the farm
6. The presence of non-poultry bird species, other poultry and other animals on the farm