SAFETY IN THE FOOD CHAIN: BIOSECURITY AND COPING WITH DISEASE OUTBREAKS (with primary reference to the pig industry)

摘要

The subject of biosecurity is very wide-ranging and has played a vital role in intensive farming systems, mainly pigs and poultry, for over 30 years. A wide range of measures is advocated to protect the health status of populations (to keep disease out of farms) and to prevent the dissemination of diseases from known infected sites. The health of animals, hygiene and biosecurity play a vital role in the production of safe, wholesome food. A raft of legislative measures is in existence to support andcontrol farming and transport practices. Most recently, European Union legislation pertaining to Food Chain Information has been introduced to strengthen the farm-to-fork approach to food safety. This chapter outlines the prevalence of food-borne infections, the main approaches to maintaining good biosecurity on farms, and addresses some of the challenges and complexities faced in modern agriculture.