Operational guideline: Domestic poultry pathogen reduction programs

On this page

• 1.0 Purpose
• 2.0 Authorities
• 3.0 Reference documents
• 4.0 Definitions
• 5.0 Acronyms
• 6.0 Operational Guideline
  • 6.1 Prepare for inspection
  • 6.2 Conduct the inspection
    • 6.2.1 Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program (PRMP)
    • 6.2.2 Process Verification Monitoring Program (PVMP) and Pre-chill Microbiological Monitoring Program (PMMP)
    • 6.2.3 Determine compliance
    • 6.2.4 Failure of series (PRMP) or process out of control (PVMP and PMMP))
  • 6.3 Communicate the results
  • 6.4 Conduct follow-up
• 7.0 Report on industry results for pathogen reduction performance standards

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspection staff when conducting verification of the domestic Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program for Salmonella and Campylobacter for raw poultry (PRMP), Pre-chill microbiological monitoring program for raw poultry (PMMP) and Process Verification Monitoring Program for generic E. Coli – Biotype I for raw poultry (PVMP) implemented under sections 47 and 89 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

The guidance outlined in this document should be used when conducting verification activities for domestic poultry pathogen reduction programs (PRMP, PMMP and PVMP) in poultry slaughter establishments.

This document is intended to be used in conjunction with other guidance documents as referenced in section 3.0 of this document.

2.0 Authorities

• Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA)
• Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)

The inspection powers, control actions and enforcement actions authorized by the above legislation are identified and explained in the Operational guideline: Food regulatory response guidelines.

3.0 Reference documents

• Operational guidance - Standard Inspection Process (SIP)
• Standard regulatory response process
• Operational guideline – Food regulatory response guidelines
• Operational procedure: Food preventive control and traceability inspection – System Verification
• Food program work planning documents (accessible only on the Government of Canada network)
• Operational procedure: Food preventive control inspection – Implementation verification
• Food animal slaughter PCI operational guidance
  • Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Operational Guidance
• Operational Guidance: Food Animal Slaughter - Preventive Control Inspection - Implementation Verification
  • Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Implementation Verification Tasks
• Industry Guidance - Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program for Salmonella and Campylobacter for raw poultry
  • Annex - Sampling procedures for Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in raw poultry
  • Interim performance standard for chicken parts, comminuted chicken and comminuted turkey
• Industry Guidance - Process Verification Monitoring Program for generic E. Coli – Biotype I for raw poultry
  • Annex – Sampling procedures for generic E. coli in raw poultry
• Industry Guidance - Pre-chill microbiological monitoring program for raw poultry (PMMP)
• Notice to Industry: Update on the Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program (PRMP) for raw poultry
• Risk profile of Salmonella and Campylobacter in secondary poultry species (accessible only on the Government of Canada network - RDIMS 10662000)
• PRMP Poultry Template (accessible only on the Government of Canada network RDIMS 21350461)
• PRMP Data Collection Q & A (accessible only on the Government of Canada network - RDIMS 21470155)

4.0 Definitions

Definitions are located in the documents listed in this document or as a defined word where it is intended to supersede the definitions within the glossary documents:

• Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
• Safe Food for Canadians Regulations: Glossary of key terms
• Integrated Agency Inspection Model (iAIM) – Glossary of Terms (Annex F)

5.0 Acronyms

Acronyms are spelled out the first time they are used in this document and are consolidated in the Food business line acronyms list.

6.0 Operational Guideline

Licence holders must identify and analyze the biological hazards that present a risk of contamination of their food, and prevent, eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the hazards identified by using control measures that are shown by evidence to be effective, including any treatment or process. PRMP, PMMP and PVMP, published by CFIA provide a means to verify that overall control measures are effective in reducing Salmonella and Campylobacter (pathogens) and contamination (generic E. coli or an alternate acceptable indicator organism) in raw poultry and poultry products.

As per SFCR 89(1)(c) and SFCR 88, licence holders who slaughter food animals must prepare, keep, maintain, and implement a written Preventive Control Plan (PCP).

If the licence holder does not follow CFIA guidance and presents a different means of meeting SFCR requirements, the inspection team should perform initial assessment and then consult with CFIA specialists to verify the validity of the approach.

6.1 Prepare for inspection

Refer to section 6.1 of the Operational Guidance: Food Animal Slaughter – Preventive Control Inspection – Implementation Verification for more details on inspection preparation. In addition to the general guidance provided in this operational guidance, the following applies.

In poultry slaughter establishments, perform the following tasks at the frequency described in the program direction for preventive control inspection (PCI) frequencies for food listed under Food program work planning documents (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) to verify that the regulatory requirements for PRMP, PMMP and PVMP are met:

• Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Implementation Verification Tasks:
  • Sampling Protocol
    • Salmonella and Campylobacter (PRMP) - Sampling written protocol
    • Generic E. coli and pre-chill (PVMP and PMMP) - Sampling written protocol
  • Sampling Verification
    • Salmonella and Campylobacter (PRMP) - Sampling implementation
    • Generic E. coli and pre-chill (PVMP and PMMP) - Sampling implementation

Note: for further processing establishment only, export requirements may apply. Refer to Meat Electronic Export Certification (Ecert) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) for more details on specific country requirements and to Annex 2: Export food-implementation verification tasks of Operational procedure: Food preventive control inspection – Implementation verification for the verification tasks to be performed.

6.2 Conduct the inspection

Refer to section 6.2 of the Operational Guidance: Food Animal Slaughter – Preventive Control Inspection – Implementation Verification for more details on conducting the inspection. In addition to the general guidance provided in the Operational procedure: Food preventive control inspection – Implementation verification, the following applies.

6.2.1 Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program (PRMP)

Types and subtypes of poultry products in the scope of PRMP

The terms "Type" and "Subtype" are the broad categories that are used to define different product streams for pathogen reduction monitoring. They generally have distinct performance standards due to inherent differences in processing and potential for contamination:

• Type: the broad category of poultry product (for example, carcass, comminuted, parts)
• Subtype: the more specific classification within that broad type (for example, young chicken carcass, ground turkey, chicken drumsticks, chicken breast fillets)

Refer to section 5 and section 7.2 of Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program for Salmonella and Campylobacter for raw poultry for subtypes examples and for products within the scope.

Refer to section 7.3 of Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program for Salmonella and Campylobacter for raw poultry for products out of scope.

PRMP sampling

Depending upon types and numbers of products being produced, the licence holder should alternate series between carcasses, chicken parts and comminuted poultry every 52 weeks.

The type and subtype of the carcass and comminuted poultry that is sampled should remain the same during 52 weeks of PRMP testing; however, the type and subtype of chicken parts that are sampled will change (random parts selected) within the 52-week series. Refer to section 8.3 of Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program for Salmonella and Campylobacter for raw poultry for more details about the sampling.

During sample collection, the licence holder will:

• collect carcass by taking 1 sample (1 carcass) once during any production shift
• collect chicken parts by taking 1 sample (1.8 kg of the randomly selected subtype) once during any production shift
• collect comminuted poultry by taking multiple subsamples throughout various production shifts in a day to make a composite sample

Low volume production scenarios:

• refer to the following sections of the Pathogen Reduction Monitoring Program for Salmonella and Campylobacter for raw poultry for more details on:
  • the minimum production volumes to design and implement a PRMP: Table 4: Production volume for the implementing PRMP
  • the assessment of the performance when the product is produced seasonally: section 9.2
  • the minimum number of samples required for trend analysis: column A of Table 6 Assessment criteria for trend analysis and compliance of PRMP
• If the volume production:
  • varies over the week, then the sample should be taken as soon as possible (for example, for chicken parts or comminuted poultry, on the day that the production volume meets the minimal production volume for PRMP)
  • does not meet the criteria for the entire week, then the sample should be taken as soon as possible (for example for the chicken parts and comminuted poultry, an extra sample should be taken in the week when the production volume meets the minimal production volume for PRMP)

6.2.2 Process Verification Monitoring Program (PVMP) and Pre-chill Microbiological Monitoring Program (PMMP)

PMMP complements PVMP for generic E. coli – Biotype I in raw poultry supporting its objectives and strengthening the licence holder's PCP to demonstrate compliance to SFCR.

Distinction between PVMP and PMMP:

PMMP

Whole carcasses of all poultry species are within the scope of the PMMP, which means that all poultry species must be sampled and tested. However, only 1 species is sampled at a time and the test result is compared with the sample taken after chilling on the same flock (paired samples).

For the licence holders who chose to develop their own baseline criteria, the pre-chill sample results should be assessed against the established baseline criteria. Depending on the sampling frequencies (weekly or monthly), the licence holders may consider gathering sufficient data and conducting analysis before incorporating baseline into their PCP.

Refer to section 7 of Pre-chill microbiological monitoring program for raw poultry for minimal annual poultry slaughter volumes that warrant pre-chill microbiological monitoring, frequencies and location for paired sampling.

PVMP

Whole carcasses of all poultry species are within the scope of the PVMP, which means that all poultry species must be sampled and tested.

Only chicken and quail require one test per 22000 carcasses. Other species can be tested once per 3000 carcasses.

The licence holder must keep separate PVMP log for each poultry species; in addition, they should keep separate logs for:

• young and mature turkey
• young and mature duck
• light and heavy fowl

Note: for chicken logs, broilers and roasters can be combined to assess PVMP.

6.2.3 Determine compliance

This section provides information on the inspection activities CFIA inspector will carry out in relation to the PRMP, PMMP and PVMP, specifically, with respect to assessing the licence holder's compliance with the SFCR. If the licence holder does not follow the CFIA domestic poultry pathogen reduction programs as published and presents a different means of meeting SFCR requirements (for example, alternative PMMP or a different indicator micro-organism), the inspection team should perform initial assessment and then consult with CFIA specialists to verify the validity of the approach.

If there is a non-compliance with SFCR 89 (for example, missing components of the written PCP related to the content described in section 89), SFCR 86 should also be referenced in the same non-compliance record as that is the regulation which requires the licence holder to have a PCP that meets the provisions of SFCR 89.

6.2.3.1 Identification of biological hazards by the operator

It is a non-compliance to SFCR 47(1) when:

• Salmonella and Campylobacter are not identified as a biological hazard
• generic E. coli – Biotype I or another indicator organism reflecting potential fecal or environmental contamination are not identified as a biological hazard

6.2.3.2 Preparation, retention and maintenance of a written PCP by the licence holder

It is a non-compliance to SFCR 86(1) when, for example:

• the licence holder does not include all products in the scope of the PMMP, PVMP or PRMP in the PCP
• the licence holder does not update their PCP for a new product included in the scope of the PMMP, PVMP or PRMP

6.2.3.3 Implementation of the written PCP by the licence holder

It is a non-compliance to SFCR 88 when:

• the licence holder does not implement their PCP as intended

6.2.3.4 Description of the biological hazards identified under 47(1), the control measures to prevent, eliminate or reduce hazards to an acceptable level, and the evidence that the control measures are effective in the licence holder's written PCP

It is a non-compliance to SFCR 47 (2) and 89(1)(c)(i) when:

• the licence holder's PCP does not describe Salmonella and Campylobacter as biological hazards
• the licence holder's PCP does not describe control measures to prevent, eliminate, or reduce biological hazards of Salmonella and Campylobacter and contamination (generic E. coli - Biotype 1 or an alternate acceptable indicator organism) to an acceptable level
  Note: examples of control measures are feed withdrawal, sanitary dressing procedures, contamination control, antimicrobial intervention, Critical Control Points (CCP), Evisceration standards, chilling process, etc.
• the licence holder's PCP does not describe PRMP, PVMP and PMMP as evidence showing the control measures are effective, and the licence holder did not present an acceptable different means of meeting SFCR requirements
  Note: the licence holder may opt to implement an alternate program in place of PRMP, PVMP and PMMP. The inspection team should perform initial assessment and then consult with CFIA specialists to verify the validity of the approach, the information provided should include the rationale provided by the licence holder.
• the licence holder's PCP does not follow the CFIA domestic poultry pathogen reduction programs, and the licence holder did not present an acceptable different means of meeting SFCR requirements, for example:
  • the licence holder uses other organisms as indicators but does not provide acceptable rationale
  • the licence holder does not provide an acceptable rationale to demonstrate that a product is out of the scope of the PVMP, PMMP or PRMP:
    • if the product is sent to another federally licenced establishment for Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food production, verify that the licence holder's PCP includes evidence that product is sent to RTE establishment (a letter of guarantee is acceptable as evidence)
    • if the product volume does not meet the PRMP criteria, verify the licence holder's production volume records for that product demonstrate that the production volume is less than the minimum volume required to implement the PRMP for that product
    • if certain species produced by the licence holder are not sampled for the PMMP and the PVMP, verify the rationale provided by the licence holder (why the hazards are not likely to occur in a particular class of poultry slaughtered at the establishment)

Note: when a non-compliance is observed related to control measures as feed withdrawal, sanitary dressing, contamination control, antimicrobial intervention, CCP, evisceration standards, etc., add the appropriate implementation verification or sub-element task to the inspection scope. Refer to section 6.2.1 and Annex 1 of Operational procedure: Food preventive control and traceability inspection – System Verification, Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Operational Guidance and Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Implementation Verification Tasks for more details on the PCI tasks.

6.2.3.5 Procedures to verify that the implementation of the PCP ensures compliance with the regulatory provisions in the licence holder's written PCP

It is a non-compliance to SFCR 89(1)(c)(vi) when:

• the licence holder's PCP does not describe verification activities (such as on-site observation, interview, written PCP and record review), including activities to verify that PRMP, PMMP and PVMP are implemented as written and are effective in meeting the prescribed standards, examples of verification activities when the process is out of control include:
  • root cause analysis
  • implementation of corrective actions, which may include immediate/interim/short-term and long-term corrective actions depending on the root cause (for example, if the licence holder does not implement corrective actions when results are exceeding the performance standards for PRMP and PVMP or when pre-chill result is lower than post chill in PMMP
  • verification of effectiveness of corrective actions, which may include additional testing (for example, if the licence holder takes the same corrective action each time the process is out of control and it does not prevent future failure)
  • systematic review of the written PCP when a positive trend of PRMP, PMMP or PVMP failure is identified

Note: trend analysis and proactive corrective action before series failure (PRMP) or loss of process control (PVMP), baseline criteria development and monitoring (PMMP), as well as the assessment of microbial staging at different production steps, are not a regulatory requirement unless the licence holder has included them in their written PCP as procedures to verify regulatory compliance with the SFCR.

6.2.3.6 Documents that substantiate that the licence holder's PCP has been implemented with respect to 89(1)(c)(i) to (vi)

It is a non-compliance to SFCR 89(1)(c)(vii) when the records or documents do not demonstrate that:

• the monitoring or verification activities have been implemented
• the corrective actions (immediate, short-term and/or long-term corrective actions) bring hazards back in control
• the effectiveness of the corrective actions has been evaluated

6.2.4 Failure of series (PRMP) or process out of control (PVMP and PMMP)

Process is deemed out of control when the PRMP results do not meet the end cycle performance standards or when the results do not meet PMMP or PVMP criteria.

The failure itself is not a non-compliance to SFCR. The compliance determination is based on the response of the licence holder towards the failure. Assessment will focus on the timeliness, appropriateness, and effectiveness of the corrective actions and preventative measures implemented by the licence holder to address the failure and prevent its recurrence.

Refer to section 6.2.3 Determine compliance of this document for more details on compliance determination

When the process is out of control:

• add the applicable PCI-IV Sampling Verification task (Salmonella and Campylobacter (PRMP) - Sampling implementation or Generic E. coli and pre-chill (PVMP and PMMP) - Sampling implementation) of the Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Implementation Verification Tasks to the inspection scope to verify if the licence holder has implemented PRMP, PMMP and PVMP protocols as per their written PCP for the following:
  • identification of the root cause of the failure
  • implementing effective corrective actions to bring hazards back in control
  • verification activities, including the evaluation of the effectiveness of the corrective action
  • recording activities
• when a non-compliance in the written PCP is observed, add the applicable PCI-IV Sampling Protocol task (Salmonella and Campylobacter (PRMP) Sampling written protocol or Generic E. coli and pre-chill (PVMP and PMMP) - Sampling written protocol) of the Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Implementation Verification Tasks to the inspection scope
• if the positive trend continues (for example, second and third failures in PRMP, repeated PMMP deviation or if the PVMP standard is consistently exceeded), add the appropriate PCI- System Verification (sub-element) task or PCI-IV task to the inspection scope to assess:
  • why previous corrective actions were ineffective
  • the rationale provided by the licence holder (for example, if the positive trend in the results was a true trend or if the positive test results were due to delays between the identification of the trend, completion of the root cause analysis, implementation of corrective actions, and verification of their effectiveness)
  • if the licence holder conducted a systematic review of their PCP that includes reviewing changes to operations such as changes in facilities, equipment, personnel and procedures (for example, feed withdrawal, line speed, sanitary dressing, contamination control, antimicrobial intervention) which may affect adequacy of pathogen reduction and controls in case of PRMP or adequacy of process verification and controls in case of PMMP and PVMP

Note: the process controls and consequently the pathogen reduction process is expected to have some instances when the process is out of control. Positive trends of such instances indicate a strong likelihood of serious shortcomings in the licence holder's PCP(s) for the class of the product sampled (for example, process control, monitoring, corrective action implementation, verification).

6.3 Communicate the inspection results

Refer to section 6.3 of the Operational Guidance: Food Animal Slaughter – Preventive Control Inspection – Implementation Verification for more details on reporting results.

6.4 Conduct the follow-up inspection

Refer to section 6.4 of the Operational Guidance: Food Animal Slaughter – Preventive Control Inspection – Implementation Verification for more details on conducting the follow-up inspection.

7.0 Report on Industry Results for Pathogen Reduction Performance Standards

The local CFIA is requested to forward all PRMP test results to the CFIA Science Branch (use the email address: PRPS-NRRP@inspection.gc.ca) for the following reporting periods within one month of the end of the reporting period:

• April 1 to June 30
• July 1 to September 30
• October 1 to December 31
• January 1 to March 31

The PRMP data collection spreadsheet PRMP Poultry Data Template (accessible only on the Government of Canada network-RDIMS 21350461) must be used and can be populated either by CFIA or the licence holder (follow the instructions in the spreadsheet).

Refer to the PRMP Data Collection Q & A (accessible only on the Government of Canada network - RDIMS 21470155) document for detailed instructions on completing the template in various sampling scenarios.

For inquiries related to this Operational Guidance Document, please follow established communication channels, including submitting an electronic Request for Action Form (e-RAF) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).