(UK) Turkey producers are now legally required to test for salmonella under rules that came into force at the start of this year. The chicken breeding, laying and broiler sectors have already seen the introduction of a mandatory testing regime as required under the EU Zoonoses Directive, while this year it is the turn of the turkey sector.
It applies to all turkey breeding flocks with more than 250 birds, all fattening flocks with more than 500 birds and all hatcheries with a capacity for more than 1000 eggs.
Any flocks testing positive for S enteritidis or typhimurium will face specific control measures, including cleaning and disinfection procedures plus testing of all sheds on the turkey unit to ensure that infection does not spread to subsequent flocks.
The overall target for the sector is to have a maximum percentage of turkey flocks remaining positive for S enteritidis and typhimurium serotypes of 1% or less by 31 December 2012.
However, the last nationwide survey (http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/20/110552/New-EU-survey-shows-reveals-one-third-of-turkeys-test-positive-for.htm) of commercial turkey flocks carried out in 2006/2007 showed that UK producers were already meeting the EU target.
Source: Farmers Weekly Interactive
