Insufficient Salmonella controls standards in livestock production, posing infection risks

On March 6, 2025, the Multi-Sector Food Safety Technical Working Group Under the One Health Partnership Framework for Zoonotic Disease Prevention is held annually and co-chaired on a rotational basis themed on salmonella control in poultry in Vietnam and international experiences. 

Dr. Phan Quang Minh, Deputy Director General of Livestock Production and Animal Health Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and Mr. Jesse J. Sevcik -  Executive Advisor, Corporate Affairs for Elanco Animal Health, representing the private sector to co-chair the meeting.

The meeting is also attended by representatives of the two co-chairing ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), relevant ministries, embassies, bilateral and multilateral organizations, institutes, private sector, livestock industry associations, and a number of representatives of provinces and regional and international One Health networks attending virtually. The main topic of the Working Group is One Health, salmonella control in poultry farming.

Food safety is a particularly important focus in the Multi-sector One Health Partnership Framework for Zoonotic Disease Prevention. Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been mobilizing all resources to implement the “Action Plan to ensure food quality and safety, increase processing and develop the agricultural, forestry and fishery market in 2024”, approved in Decision No. 613/QD-BNN-CCPT dated February 28, 2024 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In which, one of the urgent actions is to strengthen the salmonella control in poultry farming.

Dr. Phan Quang Minh, Deputy Director General of Livestock Production and Animal Health Department, said that Salmonella is recognized as one of the most common causes of globally foodborne illness; it is an intracellular pathogen that is difficult to control with antibiotics, it lives in the host's intestines, is excreted in feces and can contaminate the environment, food and water sources. In Vietnam and other Asian countries, the number of infected cases is not fully recorded, people often self-treat mild cases, so the actual number may be many times larger. Salmonella can appear in many different types of food, requiring enhanced control measures to minimize food safety risks.

Currently, in Vietnam, there are not yet fully updated protective measures, and standards for controlling Salmonella in livestock farming have not been completed, making the risk of infection real.

The meeting emphasizes the importance of strengthening multi-sectoral commitment and multilateral cooperation on Salmonella Infection Control in livestock, especially for poultry. The meeting provides a picture of the current situation of the poultry industry with salmonella, thereby proposes specific solutions to stakeholders. At the same time, it creates a forum for the world’s leading experts to share international experiences in salmonella control, thereby enhances the role and initiatives of stakeholders to join hands to push back the danger in food safety. In particular, this meeting has the support and active participation of Elanco Partners, representing the private sector, which are directly involved in the process of poultry production, distribution, and farming.

At the meeting, Mr. Jesse Sevcik, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs for Elanco Animal Health, emphasizes that for over 70 years, Elanco Animal Health, has been developing health care products and services for animals for food and pet animals.

Since establishing an office in Vietnam in 2008, Elanco has provided high-quality veterinary medicines and vaccines that are aligned with Vietnam’s agricultural goals and international food safety standards. Mr. Jesse Sevcik highlights Elanco’s long-term commitment to supporting food safety initiatives, addressing critical challenges such as Salmonella control in poultry production. Specifically, Elanco is willing to cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and relevant agencies of Vietnam in research, education and cooperation to develop regulations and solutions for Salmonella control and support solutions in the poultry industry in Vietnam.

Elanco also proposes that the content of “Salmonella control in poultry farming” should be included in the One Health Partnership Framework on food safety control and antibiotic resistance prevention.

Leading independent experts from Europe, Asia and Elanco Animal Health from the United States share good experiences in Salmonella control in the ASEAN region and around the world. Accordingly, some effective solutions that Vietnam can refer to and learn from include implementing strict biosecurity measures on farms to reduce Salmonella transmission; regulating compliance and hygiene standards in traditional markets and slaughterhouses which are the main sources of infection; regulating the use of antibiotics & antimicrobial resistance prevention (AMR); expanding AMR surveillance; expanding risk-based monitoring & testing; applying Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS); increasing investment in testing systems; improving testing capacity; vaccination; promoting public-private partnerships; supporting food safety certification, etc.

The meeting agrees that to manage and control food safety, not only a single industry must make efforts to implement, but it is necessary to set a unified management, mechanism, smooth coordination, a monitoring system, a specialized, qualified team and a communication strategy to change awareness and behavior and habits about food safety from farmers, communities, children and women, food production enterprises, etc. all need to be trained and have increased awareness about Salmonella. Vietnam really needs strong private partners to strengthen public-private partnerships in disease control in livestock farming, ensure domestic and international food safety conditions towards export.

The meeting acknowledges the active participation of the private sector through the co-chairing role of Elanco. This affirms the spirit and responsibility of the private sector for the policies and guidelines of the Party and State on food safety in the new period.

The work of zoonotic diseases control in general and salmonella control in poultry farming in particular will be effective when there is coordination, companionship and sharing of responsibilities through Public-Private Partnerships. The meeting encourages deeper and more proactive participation of private partners in the mechanisms and forums of the One Health Partnership Framework to share experiences in disease control from farm to table in livestock farming, ensure the health of livestock and humans, create healthy livestock products for consumers.