N.J. Admin. Code § 2:9-4.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 2:9-4.3 - Poultry distributor surveillance

(a) Poultry distributors including all premises, conveyances, crates and birds will be inspected for compliance with this chapter and tested at least quarterly for evidence of avian influenza virus. Any registered poultry distributor located outside the State shall be subject to quarterly inspection and testing by authorized agents of USDA-APHIS-VS or agents of the state in which the registrant premises is located on behalf of the NJDA.

(b) Poultry distributor facilities that test positive for avian influenza virus shall be quarantined according to N.J.A.C. 2:5-4 and shall remain under quarantine until an authorized agent of the NJDA is satisfied that the risk of disease exposure no longer exists. Premises under quarantine must comply with the following:

1. All premises shall be quarantined according to N.J.A.C. 2:5-4 and will be required to depopulate all poultry, including pigeons and doves, and undergo cleaning and disinfection. The premises shall be retested and approved by an authorized agent of the NJDA before it will be released from quarantine. A negative environmental test result is required before restocking;

2. All other livestock must be removed from any area where the poultry were housed or stored while the entire poultry area is cleaned, disinfected and allowed to dry. Livestock must be placed into temporary holding pens on the premises in accordance with N.J.A.C. 2:8, Humane Treatment of Domestic Livestock, or moved directly into a USDA recognized slaughter establishment pursuant to conditions established by NJDA;

3. Once emptied of birds and livestock, all areas where poultry were housed or stored must be cleaned of all organic material, then disinfectant shall be applied. An authorized agent of the NJDA will determine if the cleaning and disinfection is satisfactory; and

4. The premises must remain empty of poultry and livestock for a minimum of 24 hours after disinfectant is applied. Any disinfectant and/or cleaning solution applied to the premises must be allowed to thoroughly dry before restocking with poultry or livestock. The poultry distributor premises must be inspected, tested and approved by an authorized agent of the NJDA before it will be allowed to restock.

5. At the discretion of the State Veterinarian, under special circumstances poultry distributors may be exempted from depopulation if they are determined to be low risk for disease transmission. In such cases, the State Veterinarian will approve and implement a special quarantine release protocol. Under this protocol, the poultry distributor premises will be quarantined until tested negative and the quarantine is lifted by the State of New Jersey.

(c) A poultry distributor that fails biosecurity inspections and/or tests positive during the quarterly testing shall undergo monthly inspections and testing until there have been three consecutive months of negative testing, at which time quarterly testing will resume.

(d) Poultry distributors located in other states that test positive for Avian Influenza may be embargoed by the NJDA according to N.J.A.C. 2:5-2.1(a) and (b).

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:9-4.3