We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Advice and guidance

Salmonella

Published
18 January 2019
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural

Guidance on the regulation and monitoring of salmonella in animals.

Part of

Salmonella

Salmonellae are a known bacterial cause of food-poisoning incidents worldwide, and are common commensals of all animals and birds. These organisms can live in the digestive tract of a wide range of animals and birds.

Some types of salmonellae can affect humans as well as animals. Transmission to humans can occur when organisms, introduced into the kitchen in poultry carcasses, meat or unpasteurised milk, multiply in food, usually due to inadequate cooking or cross-contamination.

Many of the types of salmonellae that cause human food poisoning do not cause clinical signs in animals so monitoring is necessary to check levels of infection.

Human health implications

It is usually fairly short-lived illness. However severe disease can occur with high temperature , diarrhoea and blood poisoning. In a few cases infected animals or people may carry certain strains of the bacteria for prolonged periods.

National Control Programmes (NCPs)

NCPs were established to protect human health by achieving agreed targets through auditable annual programmes to reduce the prevalence of certain zoonoses in animal populations at primary production level. They cover farm animal species which present a potential risk of transmitting Salmonella and other zoonotic agents to humans and are currently implemented for commercially significant flocks of breeding chickens, broilers, laying hens, turkey breeders and turkey fatteners.

The NCPs place an obligation on operators to collect samples at predetermined intervals. These samples need to be submitted to an approved laboratory for analysis. A list of laboratories approved to conduct this work is available.

All costs associated with sampling and testing have to be met by operators. Additionally, costs will also be recovered from flock owners for any official sampling work undertaken on behalf of Scottish Ministers by the Scottish Government Poultry Unit and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

A variety of guidance is available:
 

Legislation

The Zoonoses Order 1989 provides the power for investigating, sampling and controlling Salmonella.

The Control of Salmonella in Poultry (Breeding, Laying and Broiler Flocks) (Scotland) Order 2009 and The Control of Salmonella in Turkey Flocks (Scotland) Order 2009 implement the NCPs.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is about being aware of the ways disease can spread and taking every practical measure to minimise the risk of disease spreading. The advice details practical things you can do on your farm to help prevent the introduction and spread of rabies to and from your animals.

A Code of Practice for the prevention and control of rodents on poultry farms is available.

Back to top