A Secure Pork Supply plan provides the opportunity to voluntarily prepare before a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. Below are frequently asked questions that will be addressed during the annual meeting. A panel of experts will be present to discuss the process and to answer questions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: FADs and the SPS Plan
- What is the benefit of the SPS plan?
The benefit is realized in a FMD, CSF or ASF outbreak when healthy animals are more easily permitted to be moved to the packer or the next stage of production. The SPS plan provides resources to help sites prepare ahead of time rather than during the chaos of an outbreak. This benefits the animals and those involved in the pork industry.
- If the United States has not had a case of FMD since 1929, why do we need to spend time and effort preparing now?
There is always a risk of FMD being introduced into the United States due to extensive international trade and travel. This highly contagious livestock disease is present in about two-thirds of the countries in the world. Research suggests that an outbreak of FMD, CSF or ASF in the United States could result in losses of $15 to $100 billion. The USDA and the National Pork Board value preparedness and have funded the Secure Pork Supply plan to help producers prepare.
- How much does it cost to prepare as recommended in the SPS plan?
The cost varies depending on your level of preparedness. Preparedness is similar to insurance. There is a cost investment relative to the assets that need protection. It is hard to put an exact dollar value on it, but preparing before an outbreak could be a great investment.
- Requesting a premises identification number (PIN) is free.
- Putting all of the biosecurity measure in place to keep FMD, CSF or ASF off a site can add cost. However, writing an enhanced biosecurity plan ahead of time costs very little.
- Free resources for training employees about biosecurity and surveillance are available online.
- What measures in the SPS plan will be required by my packer, state or the federal government?
The SPS plan provides guidance only with opportunities to voluntarily prepare before a FMD, CSF or ASF outbreak. Each state can determine what guidance to use. Contact your State Animal Health Official to discuss what might be required in an outbreak.
- My pigs get shipped to another state. Do all states follow the SPS plan?
The SPS plan was developed nationally and each state can determine what guidance to use. Contact your State Animal Health Official to discuss your animal movement needs and learn what might be required in an outbreak.
- Do the biosecurity measures need to be audited?
Some states are conducting hours audits of pre-certification prior to a FMD, CSF or ASF outbreak. This may involve visiting the site, reviewing the enhanced biosecurity plan and discussing animal movement on and off the site. This may become a component of the Pork Quality Assurance Plus site assessment.
- Are there Secure Food Supply plans for other livestock?
Yes, there are Secure Food Supply plans for beef and dairy cattle. The Secure Pork, Milk, and Beef Supply plans were developed together, so recommendations are similar with species-specific differences where needed. More information is available on the Secure Milk Supply website and Secure Beef Supply website.
- Who is a regulatory official?
Regulatory officials are local, state, tribal and federal officials who have the authority and responsibility to respond to foreign animal disease outbreaks.
- Where can I get more information about FMD, CSF and ASF?
- FMD affects cloven-hooved animals, such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.
- CSF and ASF affect only pigs.
- FMD, CSF and ASF are not public health or food safety concerns.
- Meat and milk are safe to consume.
- More information is available at org, FMDinfo.org and at cfsph.iastate.edu.
- Why aren’t animals vaccinated now for FMD, CSF or ASF, before an outbreak?
- Watch the 8-minute FMD Vaccination video at org.
- Effective FMD vaccines do exist, but they are strain-specific (most strains require their own vaccine and do not cross-protect against infection from other strains, also known as subtypes).
- There are many different strains of FMD circulating in the world, and it is hard to predict with certainty which ones will enter the United States.
- Vaccination for FMD or CSF has international trade repercussions, which would limit the ability of the United States to export pork.
- An ASF vaccine is not available.