| |
Praise for Poultry Producers' Emergency Response Plan | |
| |
From the July 14, 2008 Issue of Agri-News | |
|
| |
|
|
| |
.
"Their response plan is wonderful," says Dr. Delores Peters, a veterinarian with the Food Safety Division (FSD) of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. "They're well advanced in their preparations should an emergency hit their industry."
The poultry industry tests its plan every year so that key emergency response people, producers on the board of directors and office managers know what to do during an actual emergency response.
"They have put a lot of work into it," says Peters, "and they keep practising it. They deserve a lot of credit."
Peters focuses on the health of the birds in Alberta's poultry industry in her scientific research and projects. The poultry industry's emergency response plan was originally designed to address avian influenza, she says, but will actually serve in any poultry emergency.
The Alberta Poultry Industry Emergency Management Team includes representatives from four poultry groups - Alberta Chicken Producers, Alberta Hatching Egg Producers, Alberta Egg Producers and Alberta Turkey Producers and allied industries and agencies including the feed industry, processors and hatcheries, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian.
There are many highly contagious diseases that could potentially affect poultry, including highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease. "The emergency response plan is actually quite broad," Peters says. "Parts of it could be used in case of toxic spills, contaminations and anything where the industry is at risk."
An industry's emergency response plan is developed to work in conjunction with the emergency response plans of government agencies at the federal and provincial level. The plan details the action required for dealing with each control aspect of a disease outbreak. The industry's emergency response plan is continuously reviewed and tested in simulated emergencies.
The Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian of ARD has been involved in the development and testing of the Alberta Poultry Industry's Emergency Response Manual. "The poultry industry is demonstrating remarkable foresight in the development of such a comprehensive emergency plan," says Dr. Gerald Ollis, Chief Provincial Veterinarian. "We all hope that they never have to use it, but it is good to know that they are prepared, just in case."
Contact:
Alberta Ag-Info Line
310-FARM (3276)
The contents of this page are no longer available.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
For more information about the content of this document, contact Lee Anne Bateman.
This document is maintained by Rita Splawinski.
This information published to the web on July 9, 2008.
|
|