Veterinary - National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

• The NPIP is a voluntary State–Federal cooperative testing and certification program for poultry breeding flocks, baby chicks, poults, hatching eggs, hatcheries, and dealers. The objective of the NPIP is to provide establishing standards for the evaluation (testing) of poultry breeding stock, baby chicks, poults, and hatching eggs with respect to freedom from certain diseases.
• The primary diseases covered by the NPIP are avian influenza (fowl plague) and S. pullorum (pullorum disease)/S. gallinarum (fowl typhoid) although many other disease and program options are available for commercial poultry.
• Many states and most U.S. trading partners require certain NPIP program certifications or similar disease testing for interstate/international movement. Our state and county fairs require testing similar to the NPIP U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid (P-T) Clean program for birds to be displayed, but this can be accomplished through either NPIP certification OR on-site testing available at the exhibition

BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1, 2025: 

Both U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean & U.S. Avian Influenza Clean Certifications will be required baseline certifications for participation in the NC NPIP Subpart E (aka Backyard) Program

• There is a one-time $50.00 registration fee to join the program in NC, presuming yearly renewal/associated testing is maintained and the flock remains thereafter closed to non-NPIP birds.  Currently this fee is collected by your Veterinary Program Specialist at time of flock qualification (i.e. your first test visit). *
• Annually you will be charged a $10.00 NC renewal fee, which, for the time being, will be collected by your Veterinary Program Specialist during their annual visit to your property.*
• See below for additional testing costs associated with each certification.

* Indicates operational shifts may be coming soon, check back occasionally for updates

U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean Certification Requirements

• Testing is once-a-year, on site, scheduled and performed by a Veterinary Program Specialist at a cost of ten cents (10¢) per bird.  They collect a drop of blood from the inner side of each bird’s wing and test for a reaction that could indicate presence of Salmonella Pullorum or Salmonella Gallinarum (aka Fowl Typhoid).
• During qualification (i.e. your first visit prior to closure of the flock), all birds within your flock will be tested.  You will receive a follow-up invoice from our lab to collect this payment.

• Upon all subsequent annual surveillance visits only 30 birds will be tested/flock assuming the flock has remained closed to non-NPIP birds.

U.S. Avian Influenza Clean Certification Requirements

• Please note that U.S. AI Clean Certification was developed to boost surveillance nation-wide for Low Path Avian Influenza, a disease which presents very differently from High Path Avian Influenza and has the potential to go undetected within a flock.  While U.S. Avian Influenza Clean certification provides assurance that a flock is not silently carrying Low Path Avian Influenza, it does not indicate that a flock is at any less risk of exposure to or contraction of High Path Avian Influenza.
• To maintain AI Clean status, your flock will need to be tested twice a year** for this particular disease (30 birds tested/flock/visit).
• Samples for this testing will be collected by one of our Veterinary Program Specialists and processed at an NCVDLS lab.  You will be invoiced through the lab at a cost of $10 per test.  Normally we are able pool up to 10 birds per test, but this could vary based upon the species of birds that you have.  Be sure to clarify beforehand with your Veterinary Program Specialist.

**Typically testing is required at a six-month interval but can be required quarterly based on the species of birds in your flock.

• Email us at: vetpoultry @ncagr.gov
• Include the following information:
  1. Your physical/911 address
  2. Your mailing address (if different)
  3. Your telephone number and email
  4. An approximate number of adult birds on your premises (poultry, waterfowl and upland gamebird)
• A member of our Poultry Health Programs team will contact you within 5 business days