Global Guide to Best Practices in Air Transport of Hatching Eggs, Day-Old Chicks, Poults and Ducklings

The objective of this guide is to ensure the quality of air transport of breeding stock in the form of hatching eggs (HEG) 1 and/or day-old-chicks (DOC) 2 by: • Eliminating stress to reduce the mortality of DOC • Safeguarding the HEG during their transport The guide covers what the USPOULTRY Air Cargo Committee, EPB and ELPHA consider the ideal parameters to transport HEG or DOC to guarantee the highest quality upon arrival. However, these organizations realize that, due to practical constraints, these conditions cannot always be achieved. Background on the USPOULTRY Air Cargo Committee The USPOULTRY Air Cargo Committee is one of the world’s largest and most active poultry organizations. It represents the entire U.S. industry as an All Feather Association, progressively serving through research, education, communication and technical assistance. Formed in 1947, the association has affiliations in 27 states and member companies worldwide. The ACC’s objective is to encourage safe handling and proper techniques for shipping breeder DOC and HEG to other nations and to recommend actions to its Board of Directors. Background on the EPB and ELPHA The EPB is a non-profit organization and part of the ELPHA. The mission of ELPHA is to defend the interests of primary poultry breeders in the European Union (EU) as well as their rights and functions to address common issues in the European and international markets and to have an official representation of organizations, particularly in the EU. The Association endeavours to achieve this mission by: • Defining and implementing principles related to poultry breeding on the basis of the EU Treaty • Reinforcing the contacts between the affiliated organizations on one hand and the institutions of the EU and all other authorities and bodies on the other • Representing the common interests of the members with the EU institutions and possibly also with official national governments • Defending the common interests of its members by any useful procedure These guidelines have been prepared by all members of USPOULTRY Air Cargo Committee, EPB, ELPHA, the airlines and ATA. 1 Hatching eggs to produce day-old-chicks, day-old turkey poults, ducklings will be referred to as “ HEG.” 2 Day-old chicks, day-old turkey poults, ducklings will be referred to as “ DOC. ” 2

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