CP Foods was the first Thai company that applied the compartmentalisation principles of World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) as part of a key measure to protect Thailand against the bird flu virus.
The measures comprised common biosecurity management, notifiable Avian Influenza (NAI) surveillance in compartment and buffer zone, control measures of NAI in compartment and buffer zone and traceability system. In addition, buffer zone of one km around farms have been implemented to ensure distinct health status.
So far, CP Foods has extended the system to create higher quality meat through “Benja Chicken”, which is not only implemented compartmentalization but also raised without antibiotic. This premium product is raised to serve health conscious consumers.
Dr. Payungsak Somyanontanakul, vice president and head of Animal Welfare Committee of CP Foods, said the company has implemented the compartmentalisation system which prevents Avian Influenza particularly in broiler chicken and duck integration.
“Despite [being] without certification, former EU Commissioners, representatives of World Health Organization, OIE and other health organizations have praised CP Foods’ compartment procedures that supported national bird flu free strategies and ensuring our CP Foods Products free from bird flu. Thailand was also a pilot country in the region to launch OIE compartmentalization and successfully established to control avian influenza,” said Dr.Payungsak.
With the compartmentalisation system, he said it encourages traceability practices throughout the supply chain. The company has also further developed the compartment system to prevent “emerging disease” in poultry farms for international trade.
For sustainable biosecurity, CP Foods has also promoted the compartment system to its contracted farmers which they will be trained by veterinarian and experts from DLD.
Dr. Payungsak added that OIE representatives recently visited the company from feed mill to processing plant in Nakhon Ratchasima to learn more on CP Foods’ compartment model. He said the OUIE will raise this model as a case study in its South-East Asia workshop on compartmentalisation.