Assessment of action plan
Published 18 March 2026
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Audit: France, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccination for commercial ducks
Date of Audit: 2 to 6 December 2024
Date response received: 7 March 2025
Recommendation 1
General Directorate for Food (DGAL) to provide guidance to laboratories on when to highlight sampling non-compliances to local Département Directorates.
France’s response
In response to the other recommendations in the report, we have decided to introduce a specific procedure for establishments whose products from vaccinated animals are intended for export to the UK. This specific protocol therefore makes it possible to respond to recommendation 2 (in-building monitoring) and recommendations 1, 4, 5 and 6, by systematically checking the compliance of the monitoring carried out with this specific protocol.
Great Britain’s response
Thank you for proposing a specific procedure for establishments whose products are intended for export to Great Britain. We understand and are reassured that this protocol will require farms exporting to Great Britain to carry out enhanced passive surveillance at the building level throughout production.
We will take this protocol to our Animal Disease Policy Group and seek their approval. We will let you know if we are able to approve the HPAI vaccination plan for farms complying with these extra testing requirements or if we require any further information.
Recommendation 2
Enhanced passive surveillance sampling to be carried out at the flock (airspace or house) level for all farms exporting meat and meat products from vaccinated ducks to Great Britain.
France’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.
Great Britain’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.
Recommendation 3
Enhanced passive surveillance sampling to be carried out on a weekly basis throughout production irrespective of other types of sampling undertaken.
France’s response
Our comment concerns the third recommendation: as part of active surveillance, and when the mandated veterinarian takes 60 samples, five of these samples are taken from dead or dying ducks. These samples are then supplemented by healthy ducks if the five samples from dead or moribund animals cannot be taken. This procedure means that passive surveillance can also be carried out when active surveillance is being carried out, and guarantees the continuity of passive surveillance, which is carried out every week.
Great Britain’s response
Thank you for this clarification. We have updated the audit report to reflect that DGAL recommends that 5 samples out of the 60 collected for active surveillance should be taken from dead or moribund ducks, where available.
It was reported during the audit that this recommendation is not being followed in the field. Therefore, we have amended the recommendation to reflect that DGAL must ensure this is taking place.
Recommendation 4
The competent authority to ensure that mandated veterinarians verify compliance with weekly enhanced passive surveillance, including confirming that the correct number of swabs have been submitted on a weekly basis, before signing the post vaccination surveillance certificate.
France’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.
Great Britain’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.
Recommendation 5
Département Directorates to audit how post-vaccination surveillance requirements are delivered or verified by mandated veterinarians.
France’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.
Great Britain’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.
Recommendation 6
The competent authority to be able to directly verify compliance with enhanced passive surveillance requirements.
France’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.
Great Britain’s response
See Recommendation 1 above.