The French Ministry of Agriculture has rolled out a revised national protocol for managing Salmonella in laying hen flocks, developed in collaboration with the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the National Interprofessional Committee for Eggs (CNPO). Announced in late February and detailed in sector updates as of March 4, the protocol maintains vaccination as voluntary but strongly incentivizes it through differentiated monitoring regimes.
Farms fully vaccinating against Salmonella Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium will undergo simplified surveillance limited to fecal sampling, easing compliance burdens while ensuring pathogen control. Non-vaccinated flocks, however, face enhanced protocols including both fecal and environmental swabbing to minimize shedding and egg contamination risks. This shift builds on joint efforts since 2023 to leverage vaccination’s proven efficacy in reducing prevalence, as welcomed by CNPO, which notes the approach is accessible to all farm sizes regardless of biosecurity levels.
The update aligns with EU zoonoses regulations and aims to bolster public health safeguards amid ongoing Salmonella challenges in poultry production. Industry stakeholders view it as a pragmatic step toward sustainable egg supply chains
