New guidelines issued to protect poultry from diseases

In a bid to protect poultry from infectious diseases, the central government on Friday issued the revised bio-security guidelines for the poultry farms spread across the country.

The new guidelines, released by the department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, would not only be applied to Central Poultry Development Organisations, but also to state and private poultry farms.

"This lucid general guidelines on bio-security will help prevent ingress of diseases in the poultry farms. If all poultry farms across the country, both public and private follow the basic tenets listed in true spirit it will help in a disease-free, safe and wholesome poultry production," the agriculture ministry said in a statement.

Bio-security on poultry farms is an essential tool for ensuring welfare of poultry and humans by preventing transmission of poultry-related zoonotic (which can be passed between animals and humans) and food-borne pathogens.

The guidelines assume significance in the wake of some poultry diseases like avian influenza which may be transmitted to humans, and potentially poses serious public health risks.

"After lessons from Avian Influenza and other poultry disease outbreaks across the country both in public and private farms, we must implement, as far as possible, a bio-security plan to prevent any future disasters," it said.

These guidelines were proposed to act as roadmap for keeping a close vigil and maintenance of bio-security at poultry farms, it added.