The California Poultry Health Board (CPHB) is the official state agency which administers the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). The NPIP is a state, federal and industry cooperative program that began in the 1930s to coordinate state efforts aimed at eliminating certain diseases from poultry breeding flocks and hatcheries. Since the program’s inception, the NPIP has added provisions and changed programs to meet the needs of the poultry industry. The provisions of the Plan, developed jointly by industry members and state and federal officials, establish testing standards and protocols used to monitor and control diseases spread through the reproduction process.
The CPHB certifies chicken, turkey and game bird flocks to be free of certain poultry diseases. Flocks are tested under NPIP provisions at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratories located throughout the state. Being a member of NPIP allows for the safe movement of hatching eggs and live birds within the state, across state lines, and into other countries. This voluntary program protects both the consumer and the industry.
The NPIP program consists of two programs: Part 145 for Breeding Poultry and Part 146 for Commercial Poultry. The California Poultry Health Board manages the H5/H7 Avian Influenza Control Program, Part 146, for any table-egg producer, raised-for-release upland game bird premises, and raised-for-release waterfowl premises and any commercial upland game bird, commercial waterfowl, meat-type chicken or meat-type turkey slaughter plant, including its affiliated flocks. These members may participate in the Plan when the producer or plant has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Official State Agency, that its facilities, personnel, and practices are adequate for carrying out the relevant special provisions of this part and has signed an agreement with the Official State Agency. The Program provides for the payment of indemnity for costs associated with eradication of the H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. The H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza can mutate into highly pathogenic avian influenza, a disease that can have serious economic and public health consequences. This combination of a control program and indemnity provisions is necessary to help ensure that the H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza are detected and eradicated when they occur within the United States.
Click here for the NPIP website for more detailed information on the program.
Part 145 NPIP participants are classified under the following categories:
Subpart B: Egg-Type Chicken
Subpart C: Meat Type Chicken
Subpart D: Turkey
Subpart E: Hobbyist and Exhibition Poultry, Backyard Flock, Waterfowl and
Game Bird Breeding Flocks
Subpart F: Ostrich, Emu, Rhea and Cassowary
Subpart G: Primary Egg-type breeders
Subpart H: Primary Meat-type breeders
Subpart I: Meat-type Waterfowl breeders
NPIP Part 145 disease control programs include:
- U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean
- U.S. Mycoplasma gallisepticum Clean
- U.S. Mycoplasma synoviae Clean
- U.S. Mycoplasma meleagridis Clean
- U.S. Avian Influenza Clean
- U.S. H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean
- U.S. Salmonella enteritidis Clean
- U.S. Mycoplasma gallisepticum Monitored
- U.S. Mycoplasma synoviae Monitored
- U.S. Salmonella Monitored
- U.S. Sanitation Monitored
Part 146 NPIP participants are classified under the following categories:
Subpart 6B: Commercial Table Egg Layer Flocks
Subpart 6C: Meat-Type Chicken Slaughter Plants
Subpart 6D: Meat-Type Turkey Slaughter Plants
Subpart 6E: Commercial Waterfowl and Upland Game Birds, Raised for Release
Upland Game Birds and Waterfowl
Part 146 disease control program includes:
- U.S. H5/H7 Avian Influenza Monitored
Small Backyard Flocks
Please click on the following link for Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTQ6cCPDXTM
A special Small Backyard Flock program has been established to educate flockowners about biosecurity and management of small flocks. The program is subsidized by the CPHB while we continue to receive special funds for Avian Influenza monitoring. This program only is available to small flocks of 100 or fewer birds. All participating flocks must test for Pullorum-Typhoid and Avian Influenza.
For more information or questions on any part of the NPIP program, please contact Monica Della Maggiore at (209) 576-6355 or by [email protected].
The Small Backyard Flock program is currently closed. The regular, unsubsidized NPIP program is always available to all flock owners in the State. Please contact Monica by [email protected] for any further questions.
Helpful Additional Information
CDFA Avian Health Program (this website from the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture is filled with lots of good information)
California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS)
NPIP (the national NPIP website)