Guidance

Poultry Health Scheme: how to register

Find out when you must register for the Poultry Health Scheme, who runs the scheme, and how much it costs to join.

Published 3 July 2014
Last updated 1 October 2014 — see all updates
From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency

Who needs to register

You must be a member of the Poultry Health Scheme (PHS) if you want to:

  • export more than 20 birds or hatching eggs to another EU member state (as long as your business meets EU animal health and welfare rules)
  • sell birds or eggs to other PHS members
  • export to countries that require compliance with EU legislation

Under the scheme you can only export live poultry and hatching eggs to another EU member state if you have held your flock for more than 6 weeks.

To export to some countries outside the EU you may also have to be a PHS member. Check the wording of the Export Health Certificate (EHC) for the destination country in question to find out if you need PHS membership.

You can find more information on the scheme in the Poultry Health Scheme members handbook (PDF, 538KB, 34 pages)

How to join the Poultry Health Scheme

You can join the PHS as an individual or company - you must have a registered business address. If you have several business addresses you must register each one.

Membership lasts for 1 year, and can be renewed annually.

You can withdraw from the scheme at any time, but you will not be entitled to a refund on your registration or membership fees.

There are different categories of membership, depending on your type of business. They are:

  • flock
  • hatchery
  • combined flock and hatchery

To join the PHS, contact the Customer Service Centre at Worcester.

Poultry Health Scheme Section
Customer Service Centre
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Worcestershire County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP

Telephone: 03000 200 301

Fax: 01905 768649

Email: csconehealthgeneral@apha.gsi.gov.uk

What happens once you have applied

Once APHA has received your application they will send a Veterinary Officer (VO) to inspect your premises, and check they are satisfactory see the Poultry Health Scheme members handbook (PDF, 538KB, 34 pages) sections C, D and E for more details.

The VO will recommend any changes you must make to your premises or working methods to be accepted as a member.

You must keep detailed records and have a standard operating procedure (SOP) for inspection at any time.

If the VO approves your premises and working methods you will be asked to pay the annual membership fee and veterinary inspection fee.

Membership fees

There is a fee for:

  • registration
  • approval
  • renewal

The fees consist of a fixed administration charge, plus a variable charge for Veterinary Officer (VO) time. The VO charge is calculated on the actual veterinary time taken.

Fees : business registration and approval

Activity Variable fee £ Fixed fee £
Veterinary Officer time to license or approve for PHS (fee for per ½ hour or part ½ hour) 23  
Annual registration as a PHS member   61
First year approval of scheme member’s flock or hatchery   210
First year approval of a scheme member’s combined flock and hatchery, on one site, inspection by a Veterinary Officer   233
Annual renewal of a scheme member’s flock or hatchery, inspection by a veterinary surgeon who is not a Veterinary Officer   74
Annual renewal of a scheme member’s combined flock and hatchery, on one site, inspection by a veterinary surgeon who is not a Veterinary Officer   78
Annual renewal of a scheme member’s flock or hatchery, inspection by a Veterinary Officer   178
Annual renewal of a scheme member’s combined flock and hatchery, on one site, inspection by a Veterinary Officer   183

Fees: laboratory operators approval

Activity Fixed fee £ Variable fee £
Application for an initial laboratory approval or annual renewal of a laboratory approval 43  
Proficiency test for Salmonella bacteriology (pullorum, gallinarum and arizonae)   131 per test
Proficiency test for Salmonella serology (pullorum, gallinarum)   336 per test
Proficiency test for Mycoplasma chicken serology (gallisepticum)   336 per test
Proficiency test for Mycoplasma culture (gallisepticum and meleagridis)   281 per test
Proficiency test for Mycoplasma turkey serology (gallisepticum and meleagridis)   336 per test
Published 3 July 2014
Last updated 1 October 2014 + show all updates
  1. AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
  2. Updated contact details for queries and correspondence about the Poultry Health Scheme
  3. First published.
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