Nepluvi Chairman Wants Global Avian Influenza Vaccine

The global poultry industry is facing challenges due to ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza, prompting Gert-Jan Oplaat, Chairman of Nepluvi, to emphasize the need for a globally accepted avian influenza vaccine. Oplaat contends that the current practice of culling, deemed not only unsustainable but also costly, should give way to an effective and ethical solution.

The avian influenza virus, nearly endemic in nature, demands a fresh approach. Culling healthy animals not only harms the poultry sector but is also ethically and socially unacceptable. Oplaat advocates for the acceptance of vaccination as an effective method to combat this disease, akin to methods employed in humans and other animals.

Global Acceptance Challenges

Oplaat highlights the challenges of global acceptance, particularly by Asian countries that refuse imported poultry products from nations with avian influenza vaccination programs. This poses a direct threat to the Dutch export of poultry products, such as chicken legs, primarily sent to Asia. Nepluvi actively engages in research and field trials to facilitate avian influenza vaccination, with Oplaat urging swift adjustments in legislation and regulations to overcome these hurdles.

Significance for Global Food Supply

Oplaat underscores the pivotal role of the poultry sector in both the Dutch economy and global food supply. An effective and globally accepted avian influenza vaccine would not only safeguard the Dutch poultry industry but also positively contribute to the worldwide poultry industry. Oplaat calls for prompt action to support these developments and pave the way for a more sustainable and ethically responsible meat production.