Duck virus test and vaccination

International collaboration between scientists from Australia and Vietnam has resulted in a package of fast and effective diagnostic tests for duck virus enteritis.The disease, also known as duck plague, is caused by a herpesvirus, which affects ducks, geese and swans and can cause up to 90% mortalities in affected flocks in Southeast Asia where outbreaks are common. Rapid diagnosis tests produced will enable outbreaks of the disease to be better controlled by the Vietnamese duck industry.

Funded by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), scientists from the University of Queensland, CSIRO Animal Health and the National Veterinary Company/ Veterinary Research Center (NAVETCO) in Vietnam, have also been able to produce a cheap and effective vaccine, which is to be evaluated in field trials in Vietnam. Duck virus enteritis does not occur in Australia but domestic and wild ducks are exposed to the risk of the virus being introduced into the country by migratory waterfowl, which are thought to be involved in disease transmission.
Source: AMS Poultry Programs, USDA.


FSIS enforcement actions on poultry in USA
Issue: Dec 6, 1999

Building on the 1996 HACCP [Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point ] rule, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is extending testing requirements for e. coli [Escherichia coli] to establishments that primarily slaughter sheep, goats, equines, ducks, geese, and guineas. The rule, published in the Nov. 29 Federal Register, will be effective Jan. 25, 2000.

FSIS is requiring that sheep, goat, and equine establishments be sampled at the same frequency now required for cattle, one test per 300 carcasses. Duck, geese, and guinea establishments are to sample at the same frequency required for turkeys, which is one test per 3,000 carcasses.

Commenting on the implementation, FSIS Administrator Thomas J. Billy said, "The successful implementation of HACCP has aided us in establishing this rule, which is another step forward in our efforts to improve food safety."

FSIS also issued its long-awaited "Rules of Practice" that were originally slated to be announced when the HACCP process was implemented almost two years ago. This rule defines each type of enforcement action and procedure that it may take against a meat or poultry plant that violates inspection regulations, effective Jan. 25. The rule is part of FSIS' ongoing effort to consolidate, streamline, and clarify the meat and poultry product inspection regulations.

Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and Poultry Products Inspection Act, FSIS is responsible for assuring that meat and poultry products distributed in commerce are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled, and packaged. If an establishment fails to comply with regulatory requirements, FSIS may take action to prevent the production and shipment of product until an establishment complies with inspection regulations.

Enforcement actions that FSIS may find necessary to take if inspection requirements are not met include: refusing to grant an application for inspection; not allowing a product to be shipped; rejecting equipment or facilities; slowing or stopping production lines; or refusing to allow the processing of specifically identified product. FSIS may also refuse to apply the mark of inspection to products; suspend inspection; withdraw inspection; or refuse to approve markings, labels, or containers.

Appeals will continue to be processed based on the existing regulations, in which persons filing an appeal go through the "chain-of-command." FSIS plans to propose changes to the appeals process separately at a later date.
Source: American Institute of Food Distribution