Appendix II (Concerning the Article 21): Biosecurity Standards 3. Chickens, ducks, quail, pheasant, ostriches, guinea fowl and turkeys I. Gaining the latest information regarding livestock epidemic control 1. Always confirm the information provided by the Livestock Hygiene Service Center regarding prevention of outbreak and spread of infectious diseases that can infect the poultry reared and follow the instructions, etc. by the Livestock Hygiene Service Center. Make effort to obtain information regarding livestock epidemic control by attending trainings/lectures about livestock hygiene provided by the Livestock Hygiene Service Center, etc., reading the information on the Website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and taking other actions. Comply with the relevant laws and regulations and receive inspections conducted by the Livestock Hygiene Service Center. II. Establishment of hygienic control area 2. Divide the farm owned into a hygienic control area and another area with a clear indication of the border. III. Prevention of pathogens into the hygienic control area (Restriction of unnecessary entrance by persons into the hygienic control area) 3. Minimize the number of entrances to the hygienic control area. Avoid unnecessary entrance into the hygienic control area by persons. Post a sign near the entrances and take other measures to minimize the possibility of contact of the poultry reared by the persons who have entered the hygienic control area. These measures may be waived when farms where a large number of unspecified people are expected to enter, such as farms operated as a tourist attraction, have laid out regulations to prevent entering and leaving of pathogens into/out of the hygienic control area (e.g., disinfection of fingers and shoes at the entrance of the hygienic control area) and the efficacy of these measures was verified by an animal health inspector. (Disinfection of vehicles entering/leaving the hygienic control area) 4. Install a disinfection system near the entrances to the hygienic control area and have the driver disinfect the vehicle using the system when entering/leaving the hygienic control area (except when the driver is equipped with disinfection equipment with an equal or great capability and the vehicle is disinfected using the equipment). (Disinfection of persons entering/leaving the hygienic control area and poultry houses) 5. Install a disinfection system near the entrances of the hygienic control area and poultry houses, and have the persons entering the hygienic control areas or poultry houses wash or disinfect fingers and disinfect shoes when entering/leaving the hygienic control area or poultry houses (except when the person is carrying disinfection equipment with him/her that has an - 1 -
equal or great capability and the person disinfects his/her fingers and shoes using the equipment). (Preparation and use of outfits and shoes limited to the hygienic control area) 6. Prepare outfits (including those to put over other clothes when entering the hygienic control area) and shoes (including boot covers to put over other shoes when entering the hygienic control area) dedicated to the hygienic control area and shoes (including boot covers to put over the shoes worn when entering the poultry house) specifically designed to each poultry house, ensure that the people entering the hygienic control area and poultry house wear them (except when the person is carrying an outfit and pair of shoes specifically designated for the use in the specific hygienic control area and shoes specified to each of the poultry houses with him/her wear them). (Measures taken when a person who has previously entered into another livestock facility, etc. enters into the hygienic control area) 7. Avoid entrance into the hygienic control area by people who have previously entered into another livestock facility, etc. in the same day (except for animal health inspectors, veterinarians, feed carriers, and other livestock-related personnel), as well as people who have entered into Japan or returned to Japan from other countries within the previous seven days, unless necessary. (Measures taken when objects used in another livestock facility, etc. into the hygienic control area) 8. Wash or disinfect the object in cases when an object that has been used or may have been used in another livestock facility, etc. is brought into the hygienic control area and the object may directly contact the live poultry/dead bodies of poultry reared in the farm or eggs laid by the poultry. Do not bring items that are not necessary for management of poultry farming into poultry houses. (Measures taken when bringing clothes, etc. that have been used outside of Japan into the hygienic control area) 9. Avoid bringing clothes and shoes that have been used outside Japan within the last 2 months into the hygienic control area. If the entering of the item into the area is unavoidable, take necessary measures, such as the washing and disinfection of the item, before bringing the item into the area. IV. Avoidance of invasion of pathogens from wild animals, etc. (Avoidance contamination of feeding facility, watering facility with feces, etc. of wild animals) - 2 -
10. Take necessary measures to prevent contamination of feeding facility and watering facility in the poultry house, as well as feed storage, with feces, etc. of wild animals, such as rats and birds. (Disinfection of drinking water) 11. Disinfect the water if the water to be fed to the poultry reared in the farm is susceptible of being contaminated with feces, etc. of wild animals. (Installation, inspection and repair of nets, etc. to prevent invasion of wild animals) 12. Install bird nets (limited to nets with a mesh size of 2 cm or smaller, or nets that are recognized to have equivalent effects) or other systems that can prevent invasion of birds and other wild animals into the poultry house. Inspect the installed nets regularly for damage. In case damage is found, repair the net immediately. (Control of rats and harmful insects) 13. Repair the damage immediately when damage is found on the roof or wall of the poultry house. Take necessary measures to control rats and harmful insects, such as flies. V. Maintenance of hygienic conditions of the hygienic control area (Regular cleaning and disinfection, etc. of poultry houses, etc. and equipment) 14. Regularly clean or disinfect the poultry house or facilities and equipment located in the hygienic control area. (Cleaning and disinfection of empty poultry houses and empty cages) 15. Clean and disinfect the poultry house or cage (cage used to rear poultry) after being emptied by shipping or the transferring of poultry. (Avoid rearing in overly dense conditions) 16. Avoid rearing poultry in overly dense conditions that may affect the health of the poultry. VI. Observation of poultry health conditions and measures taken when abnormal conditions are observed (Early notification and suspension of shipment and movement in cases when specified conditions are observed) 17. Notify the Livestock Hygiene Service Center immediately when specified conditions are observed with poultry reared in the farm. Stop the shipping and movement of poultry, dead bodies of poultry, products, and feces. Do not take out items from the hygienic control area unless necessary. (Suspension of shipping and movement in cases when non-specified conditions are observed) - 3 -
18. If the poultry reared in the farm shows health conditions other than the specified conditions, and a drastic increase of mortality of poultry or increase of the number of poultry showing similar conditions is observed (except when it is clearly known that the cause of increase is not an infectious disease of livestock), immediately receive medical treatment or instruction of a veterinarian or instruction of the Livestock Hygiene Service Center. At the same time, immediately stop shipment and movement of the poultry until it is confirmed that the poultry is not affected with a monitored infectious disease. Follow the instruction of the Livestock Hygiene Service Center in case when the poultry is confirmed to have been affected with a monitored infectious disease. In case when other abnormal conditions other than the specified conditions are found with the poultry reared in the farm, immediately receive medical treatment or instruction of a veterinarian. (Daily health observation) 19. Observe the health conditions of the poultry reared in the farm every day. (Observation of health conditions, etc. when introducing livestock) 20. When introducing new poultry from other farms, etc., confirm the disease occurrence in the farm, etc. where the poultry is obtained from, health conditions of the poultry to be introduced, and other information in order to ensure introduction of healthy poultry. After the poultry is introduced into the farm, avoid direct conditions with other poultry until it is confirmed that the introduced poultry shows no abnormal conditions that may indicate an infectious disease for livestock. (Observation of health conditions during shipping or movement of livestock) 21. When shipping or moving the poultry, confirm the health conditions of the poultry before shipping or movement. VII. Preparation for burial, etc. 22. Secure land to be used for burial (standard: 0.7 square meters for 100 adult birds (150 days old or older)) or take measures for incineration or rendering. VIII. Preparation and storage of report for early identification of infection routes, etc. 23. Prepare a report on the following items and keep the report at least for one year. (1) Name and address or affiliation of each person who enters into the hygienic control area (excluding the owner and employees) and the date and purpose of the entrance into the hygienic control area (purpose may be excluded when the affiliation, etc. is clearly indicated). In addition, in case the person has entered into Japan or returned to Japan from other countries within the previous seven days, the name of all the countries or areas visited in the last seven days, as well as whether or not the person has entered into a livestock-related facility, etc. in the countries or areas. The record may be waived when farms where a large - 4 -
number of unspecified people are expected to enter, such as farms operated as a tourist attraction, have laid out regulations to prevent entering and leaving of pathogens into/out of the hygienic control area (e.g., disinfection of fingers and shoes at the entrance of the hygienic control area) and the efficacy of these measures was verified by an animal health inspector. (2) Period and name of the country or area in case when the owner of the poultry or an employee visited a country or area outside of Japan. (3) Type, quantity (number of birds), health conditions, name of the farm from which the poultry was obtained and date when the poultry was introduced. (4) Type, quantity (number of birds), health conditions, name of the farm to which the poultry is shipped or moved and the date of shipment or movement. (5) Whether or not the poultry reared in the farm shows abnormal conditions, number or weight of eggs laid. In cases when abnormality is observed, the conditions, number of birds, age in days, and location in the farm where the abnormal conditions are found shall be also recorded. IX. Additional measures concerning owners of large-scale farms (Instruction on health management by veterinarian, etc.) 24. Owners of large-scale farms must designate a veterinarian or veterinary facility with which the Livestock Hygiene Service Center has a close relationship and receive instruction from the veterinarian or veterinary facility concerning the health management of the poultry reared in the farm. (Establishment of notification rules) 25. The owner of a large-scale farm shall have laid out rules where employees are required to immediately notify the Livestock Hygiene Service Center without obtaining authorization of the owner (the owner or manger if there is a manager in addition to the owner in the large-scale farm) when specified conditions are found with poultry reared in the farm. The owner must also ensure that all employees are fully informed of the rules. The owner also must ensure that all employees are fully aware of the information regarding the prevention of outbreak and spread of infectious diseases. - 5 -