After a concerted long-term industry-wide effort, the US Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) is about to obtain official programme status with the US department of Agriculture (USDA).
US SHIP is a voluntary programme to establish certifications for pig farms and processing plants related to prevention and handling of potential foreign animal diseases (FADs) including African Swine Fever (ASF) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF). US SHIP is endorsed by the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), American Association of Swine Veterinarians, US Animal Health Association and others.
For several years, hundreds of US pig producers, veterinarians and others attended meetings to develop US SHIP. They have discussed and approved programme standards and resolutions that further clarify and define the requirements for a national certification programme for safeguarding and protecting swine health.
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In January, NPPC submitted its final comments on codifying US SHIP. Among other things, NPPC pointed out that without US SHIP, an FAD outbreak in the US could stop pork exports for more than 10 years at a cost of $50 billion. Even if the FAD were controlled and pork exports resumed within two years, losses are estimated to be $15 billion.
“US SHIP would allow U.S. pork operations to obtain certification that they are free from FADs,” stated the NPPC on 31 January in a report about its comments. “As is the case for the similar National Poultry Improvement Plan, these certifications could be referenced for interstate commerce and international trade. The plan’s components include traceability of animals, feed biosafety, farm biosecurity, feral swine mitigation, disease surveillance, and transportation sanitation.”
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