FACT SHEET:  ILT Questions and Answers

ARTICLE:  Emergency Response Plans for the Poultry and Pork Industries

The Poultry Emergency Response Plan forms the basis for the Nova Scotia poultry industry to respond to any emergency situation in the province which broadly impacts the poultry industry.

The plan is developed and overseen by the Nova Scotia Poultry Emergency Response Planning (PERP) Committee. The Emergency Management Team (EMT) is then responsible to activate and carry out the plan on behalf of the Nova Scotia poultry industry. The EMT does the following:

• manages the industry response to reportable animal disease and natural disasters impacting the Nova Scotia poultry industry

• ensures industry input into critical government decisions in poultry emergencies and to policy formation for poultry emergency planning

• is available to, and responds with, federal and provincial government agencies.

This plan aims to provide technical, logistical and managerial resources required from the poultry industry to prepare for and then manage poultry emergencies in Nova Scotia where the industry is threatened by any Federally or Provincially Reportable Poultry Disease including:

· Reportable Avian Influenza
· Exotic Newcastle Disease
· Fowl typhoid
· Salmonella pullorum
· Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT)
· Or any other disease the AAFC or NSDAF Ministers names

The plan can be activated to deal with other events which may impact a large segment of the provincial poultry industry. This could also involve natural disasters/acts of God.

Partnership is key to the success of this group in coordinating an emergency response. At all times the focus of the group is on cooperation and utilizing all resources in the most effective manner. Members of the team have a responsibility to do their best for the industry as a whole. The above emergencies may require different responses and should have separate mini-plans for each of the major threats.