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Farm and Home Biosecurity
Livestock/Row Crop Producer
American Feed Industry Association Guide to Biosecurity
Awareness
Introduction • Threats
to Biosecurity • Facility Security • Visitor
Policy • Ingredient Integrity • Product
Integrity • Distribution • Product
Recall • Housekeeping • Employee
Selection and Training • Emergency Response
Introduction
In response to potential attacks on the safety of the nation’s food supply,
the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have requested that
industry leaders involved in animal agriculture assume a leading role in raising
biosecurity awareness. Grain, processed ingredients, animal feed, pet food and
their delivery vehicles all serve as potential vectors for intentional
contamination, resulting in injury to humans and animals.
One should not assume that consumers are a terrorist’s sole targets.
Terrorists may also cause severe economic hardship and market disruptions by
damaging production assets and distribution methods.
The time is right for promoting biosecurity for the feed industry. AFIA
offers this publication as a guide to biosecurity awareness. It is not intended
as an operational manual and is not a substitute for good manufacturing
practices. Instead, this publication is a tool toward strengthening companies’
overall feed/food safety plans.
Each employee has a role in assuring the quality of manufactured products.
Starting with top management, the message must be conveyed that all employees
should remain vigilant in protecting a company’s assets and reputation.
Consider conducting employee-training meetings using this guide and the related
PowerPoint™ presentation, available at American
Feed Industry Association web site.
In the event of an attack upon its facility, a company should contact law
enforcement authorities immediately. AFIA stands ready to assist any company
should such an unfortunate event occur. AFIA will also serve as a clearinghouse
of information to enable others to quickly protect industry assets.
Collectively, AFIA and the industry can help insure the safety of our nation’s
food supply by continuing to provide safe feed, while maintaining a safe work
environment.
Threats to Biosecurity
Certain safe substances may be used to produce unsafe or harmful combinations
if used incorrectly or indiscriminately. These include ammonium nitrate or urea
fertilizer, concentrated pesticides and animal drugs. Secure and account for
such products and report anyone acting suspiciously or wishing to purchase
abnormal quantities.
Generally, feed and feed ingredients may become adulterated by the following
means:
- Biological (bacteria, toxins, viruses, parasites, etc.)
- Chemical (classical chemical warfare agents, such as nerve, blister,
blood and choking, and toxic industrial chemicals, such as pesticides, rodenticides and heavy metals)
- Radiological (agents that can be delivered in liquid or solid
form)
- Physical (e.g. ferrous and non-ferrous metal, glass and plastic)
Any biosecurity program should anticipate attempts to introduce these agents
into the animal feed production and distribution process.
Facility Security
Ensuring the physical security of buildings and grounds is an important step
in overall biosecurity. A conscious effort should be taken to assess and control
security risks by recognizing and anticipating security issues before they
surface.
- Consider using security lighting, perimeter fencing, and controlled
gate access. Depending upon the size of the property and type of business, an
off-hours security guard may be warranted.
- Use electronic security devices, such as motion detectors, door alarms,
video cameras and alarms linked to an off-site security system as effective
deterrents.
- Make certain door hardware is of industrial design.
- Install guards on exterior ladders, protecting them from unauthorized
use and preventing access to the top of bulk storage tanks. Discharge gates of
all bins should be electronically or mechanically secured to prevent
unauthorized release.
- Padlock entry and discharge points of exterior liquid tanks (above and
below ground) when not in use.
- Provide additional security by employing secured covers over outside
receiving pits.
- Lock all vehicles parked outside at night or during non-business hours.
- Secure or park containers inside, whether they are empty or loaded with
product.
- Request local law enforcement to patrol company premises on a regular,
but unpredictable basis. A facility that “looks” secure • will
frequently discourage the casual prankster.
- Encourage employees to report suspicious behavior. Employees can assist
in protecting the company’s assets and its reputation, and in ensuring
uninterrupted operations and service.
- Restrict access to computer process control and data systems, secure
on-line communications, and safeguard them with virus protection. Store
back-ups off-site.
- Emphasize security when in new construction planning and design.
Visitor Policy
All visitors should check in with a designated company representative. This
procedure protects against unwanted visitors and helps account for all persons
during an emergency.
- Post signs informing visitors where to report.
- Limit access to other areas of the property by designating a specific
area for visitor parking.
- Maintain a record of individuals’ names and companies, arrival and
departure times, and purposes of the visit.
- Use visitor badges or identification cards.
- Do not allow visitors, including delivery personnel, contract providers
and service support, to wander the premises. A company representative should
serve as escort at all times.
- Restrict access to key manufacturing areas.
Ingredient Integrity
An important component in feed biosecurity is ensuring that all feed
ingredients are safe.
- Purchase only from an approved-list of suppliers.
- Visit new suppliers, request samples and lab analysis, review their
quality programs and procedures for positive product identification, their
relationships with contract haulers, and product security during transport.
- Label and use in accordance with federal and state regulations only
approved ingredients for feed production.
- Have the supplier or transportation company certify that the container
is clean before loading. No hazardous materials may be hauled prior to, or in
combination with, feed ingredients.
- Secure truck trailers, both bag and bulk, once loaded. In the case of
soft-top trailers, measures should be taken to prevent unauthorized persons
from accessing and adulterating the shipments.
- Secure rail car hatches and discharge gates. When using seals, record
the seal numbers on the bill of lading. Upon receipt, verify the seal numbers.
- Inspect packaged products for seal tampering.
- Take, inspect for known physical characteristics and retain samples
prior to and during unloading.
- Maintain a receiving log for all receipts, including rejected items.
Product Integrity
Protect the integrity of products during production and while being prepared
for shipment.
- Sample products and inspect them for known characteristics.
- Generate records sufficient to allow traceability of ingredients though
production.
Distribution
Certain precautions should be implemented to further protect product
integrity and ensure safe delivery to customers.
- Inspect thoroughly, prior to loading, the bulk container for foreign
and/or suspicious material. Confirmation of what was previously hauled is
essential. Special cleaning or sequencing procedures may be warranted.
- Verify that all customer pick-up drivers are actually representatives
of the customer.
- Inspect visually the product stream to confirm quality and consistency.
Take and retain samples.
- Secure all container access and discharge points after loading. If
seals are used, document the seal numbers on the shipping papers. Do not leave
soft-top trailers unattended.
- Use shipping documents to identify the contents of each compartment,
along with an official label for each product. In the case of rail shipments,
immediately mail or electronically send shipping papers to the customer.
- Maintain a shipping log.
- Implement a bio-sanitation program to prevent the spread of disease
from farm-to-farm. Procedures to disinfect vehicles and drivers entering and
leaving each delivery point may be dictated by the customer or by federal or
state officials.
Product Recall
Every company should have a comprehensive and tested recall program that is
specific to its operations and products.
- Identify the hazard and its potential to injure humans and/or animals.
- Notify immediately all locations where the product was shipped. Contact
the sellers and ask them to identify and inform all consumers receiving the
product if it has already been sold.
- Make provisions for the return of any necessary product.
- Ascertain carefully if returned goods can be remanufactured or must be
discarded.
- Notify government agencies and law enforcement, if warranted.
- Assemble an accurate record of what was produced, shipped and later
accounted for and/or disposed.
- A 24-hour hotline number represents a responsive method to answer
consumer questions.
Housekeeping
A written housekeeping program should be implemented for all areas of the
facility, including grounds. The program might include the task, deadline and
responsible party. Routine self-inspections and a written report will document
performance.
A written pesticide and rodenticide program should also be implemented. If
some or all applications are conducted by an outside service, the firm should
provide documentation of its responsibilities and actions.
Employee Selection and Training
Biosecurity awareness should be instilled in all employees, starting with top
management. Everyone must vigilantly monitor the activities of visitors,
customers, service providers, and fellow employees.
- Ask applicants for a resume of qualifications and complete a job
application.
- Conduct background checks (i.e., previous employers’ references, and
motor vehicle and police records) to establish a prospective employee’s
qualifications and demeanor.
- Consider conducting drug and alcohol testing during the final stages of
the hiring process, after a current employee injury, and when an employee’s
fitness for duty is questionable. Check state restrictions prior to
introducing a new substance abuse program.
- Institute an employment probationary period (60 – 90 days) to
properly evaluate a new employee’s work habits.
- Train employees to recognize and report suspicious individuals or
abnormal activities, security breeches, suspicious materials or devices, and
misplaced equipment.
- Communicate a clear zero tolerance policy for workplace violence and
encourage employees to promptly report such incidents.
- Implement policies on appropriate personal protection equipment as
dictated by management and required by law.
Emergency Response
During the initial stages of an emergency, some circumstances are difficult
to control. Prepare and train all personnel to adequately respond to a crisis as
calmly and safely as possible.
- Maintain a current inventory of all hazardous and flammable products.
- Create and post a list of all emergency contacts and information.
- Develop an action plan to respond to the discovery of highly suspicious
substances or devices. The plan should provide for evacuating the area,
contacting law enforcement, securing the scene and identifying witnesses.
- Generate and publicize an evacuation plan in the case of fires and
explosions. This plan should include contacting emergency responders, fighting
small fires, disconnecting electrical power and assisting authorities.
- Establish and maintain an up-to-date employee roster and visitor log to
facilitate a thorough personnel head count at any appropriate time.
- Conduct evacuation and response drills, monitored periodically by the
local fire department.
- Post a site plan depicting escape routes, rendezvous areas, and fire
fighting and rescue equipment to provide employees a constant reminder of
their assignments.
AFIA provides this guidance to raise the biosecurity awareness of everyone
involved in animal agriculture. Please inform the association immediately if
unfortunate situations occur. In turn, AFIA will share appropriate information
with others so that the nation’s safe and wholesome food supply remains
protected.
The Biosecurity Awareness Guide was produced with the participation of the
Animal Health Institute (AHI); the Center of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)/Food and
Drug Administration (FDA); and the National Renderers Association (NRA). AFIA
expresses gratitude to these organizations for serving on its biosecurity task
force and contributing to the development of this important document.
American
Feed Industry Association
1501 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209-2403
Tel: 703/524-0810
Fax: 703/524-1921
11/20/01
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