Circular No. 84/2005/TT-BNN guiding the restructuring of poultry farming to prevent and control avian influenza (H5N1).

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for restructuring waterfowl breeding to prevent and control avian influenza (H5N1)

Waterfowl refers to domestic animals including ducks, geese, and swans. To date, scientists have identified some waterfowl carrying the H5N1 virus but showing few clinical symptoms. Therefore, waterfowl has become a source of disease storage and transmission, posing a significant danger. In our country, the avian influenza (H5N1) outbreak in 2005 mainly occurred in duck flocks or was spread by duck flocks. To more effectively control the avian influenza outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provides guidelines on restructuring waterfowl breeding to prevent and control avian influenza as follows:

I. Measures for controlling waterfowl breeding

1. Control of hatching eggs

- For hatching breeding eggs: Extend the implementation of temporarily halting the hatching of production eggs, raising new ducks, geese, and quails as stipulated in Document No. 321/BNN-NN dated February 4, 2005, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Announcement No. 1844/BNN-VP dated April 29, 2005, regarding the conclusions of the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control until February 28, 2007;

- For hatching fertilized eggs: The owners of hatching facilities must register with the People's Committee of the district and be subject to supervision by the local veterinary authority regarding the number of eggs hatched per batch.

2. Disposal of infected waterfowl flocks:

- Destroy without compensation flocks that illegally hatch eggs;

- Destroy flocks found to be infected with the H5N1 virus;

- Voluntary destruction upon proposal by the breeder.

3. Reforming breeding methods

- Prohibit breeding in canals, streams, rivers, ditches, or places with flowing water (including enclosed breeding);

- Prohibit free-range and open-field breeding.

- Implement enclosed breeding, breeding on floors, or breeding in gardens and ponds surrounded by fences;

- Encourage centralized, closed, industrial, and semi-industrial breeding;

- Reduce small-scale breeding.

4. Regarding breeding stock

- Central breeding farms: Only hatch to replace original and rare breeds approved by the Livestock Breeding Department;

- Local breeding farms: Only hatch to replace original and local breeds, and rare breeds approved by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development;

- Strictly implement hygiene, disinfection, decontamination, vaccination, and regular testing procedures as prescribed by the veterinary authority. If any individual in the flock is found to be infected with the H5N1 virus, it must be destroyed according to regulations.

5. Slaughtering and consumption of products must meet the following conditions:

- Duck flocks must have been vaccinated twice with avian influenza vaccine and at least 14 days after the second dose (must have a vaccination certificate);

- Duck flocks not vaccinated in non-outbreak areas, healthy, and raised in enclosed groups with negative test results for the H5N1 virus;

- Slaughtered at officially permitted slaughterhouses;

- Products for consumption must bear quarantine marks from the veterinary authority, packaged with labels indicating the date and place of slaughter, and storage conditions;

- Eggs for consumption must have clear origins, quarantined by the veterinary authority, and disinfected with Formalin or immersed in Chloramin B.

II. Organization of Implementation:

1. Veterinary Authority

The Animal Health Service will guide and direct supervision, testing, quarantine, slaughter control, and disposal of infected or carrier waterfowl flocks.

2. Livestock Management Authority

- The Livestock Breeding Service will guide, direct, and inspect the restructuring of waterfowl breeding in localities according to the provisions of this Circular;

- Livestock breeding departments and agricultural departments under provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development will guide and organize the implementation of waterfowl breeding reform.

3. Levels of Government

a) Guidance and Inspection Work

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities will direct all levels to strictly implement the provisions of this Circular, particularly focusing on the following:

- Strictly inspect hatching facilities and register waterfowl egg hatching facilities;

- Inspect households engaged in waterfowl breeding, firmly prohibiting free-range and open-field breeding; deal with infected flocks;

- Plan concentrated breeding zones according to local enclosure breeding methods. Develop policies to encourage households engaged in waterfowl breeding to switch to other livestock or alternative occupations.

b) Rewards and Penalties

- Reward organizations and individuals who comply well with the provisions of this Circular;

- Firmly handle organizations and individuals violating the provisions of this Circular according to Decree No. 129/2005/NĐ-CP dated October 17, 2005, of the Government on administrative penalties in the field of veterinary medicine.

During implementation, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, please promptly report them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for research and resolution./.

During the implementation process, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, they are requested to be promptly reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for study and resolution./.