Aviagen Ltd. says it is now the first poultry breeder in the world to have achieved compartment status for all of its European facilities.
Aviagen's Great Grandparent, Grandparent and Pedigree facilities were independently assessed and accredited, along with the company's egg depot and hatcheries, by the UK department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The UK government awarded all Aviagen facilities compartment status in April 2011.
Compartmentalization was created by the World Organization for Animal Health in an effort to ensure security of supply to customers during a disease outbreak in a country. The biosecurity level of facilities are independently assessed, and those meeting the criteria are certified as disease-free and are also allowed to continue exporting live birds even if a disease is detected elsewhere in the country.
“Security of supply has become a major issue for the poultry industry and maintaining global trade links in the face of a disease outbreak is a huge challenge for the sector," said Bill Stanley, Aviagen's veterinary health director for Europe. "Gaining compartment status acknowledges our high biosecurity standards and provides a mechanism for uninterrupted trade.”
