What is a biosecurity measure? A definition proposal for animal production and linked processing operations

As part of the One Health European Joint Programme, the project “Biosecurity practices for pig farming across Europe” (BIOPIGEE) aims to establish an inventory of relevant biosecurity measures that reflects their effectiveness in reducing the occurrence of Salmonella spp. and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in European pig production. While the term “biosecurity” is well defined, a harmonized definition of the term ”biosecurity measure” (BSM) is missing. In consequence, there is a lack of clarity, understanding and acceptence, on which measures can be considered BSMs. Without clarity and acceptance, it is hard to achieve broad and effective implementation of BSMs along the food production chain and support at government policy level. Therefore, a BIOPIGEE task group i) collected and discussed relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria for measures to be considered in the context of biosecurity and ii) screened the scientific literature for potentially existing definitions for the term BSM. This exercise confirmed the lack of a definition of BSM, and underlined the importance of the topic. In the pool of articles considered relevant to defining the term ‘biosecurity measure’, specific research themes were identified. Based on these outcomes, we propose a definition of the term BSM: “A biosecurity measure (BSM) – is the implementation of a segregation, hygiene, or management procedure (excluding medically effective feed additives and preventive/curative treatment of animals) that specifically aims at reducing the probability of the establishment, survival, or spread of any potential pathogen to, within, or from a farm, operation or geographical area.” The definition provides a basis for further agreement on a harmonized definition of the term BSM and an advanced communication of best biosecurity practices to relevant stakeholders.