US poultry orgs urge support for NPIP

To better assure the continued success of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) which is directly vital to the US poultry and egg industries and indirectly beneficial to the US economy, the National Chicken Council in a letter sent March 16 to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) joined the National Turkey Federation, United Egg Producers, US Poultry and Egg Association and USA Poultry Export Council to strongly encourage moving past simply maintaining present levels of funding and support, and attempting to secure increased NPIP resources in both staffing and funding.

NPIP began in 1935 as a joint federal, state and industry effort to eradicate Salmonella pullorum. It has since expanded to include a variety of programs developed to address other highly pathogenic diseases in poultry (such as Avian Influenza), as well as food safety threats to humans like Salmonella enteritidis.

“On behalf of our respective members, we strongly support the continued efforts of NPIP to help establish production and/or health standards for segments of the US poultry industry, including broilers, turkeys, commercial egg layers, primary breeders, and multiplier breeders, as well as hobby and exhibition poultry, waterfowl and game bird breeders,” the groups wrote.

“Every year, NPIP faces tremendous challenges posed by limited staffing and funding,” the letter continues. “On a state level, NPIP operates with significant industry support, but the NPIP office located in Conyers, Georgia requires, and should receive, adequate federal funding to maintain efficiencies and the ability to deal directly with state, federal and global constituents. As NPIP programs grow in importance, it is imperative that said growth be matched by federal support.”