Food Safety Status on Poultry Meat and Egg in Afghanistan

Foodborne illness is one of the most widespread health problems in the world. In addition, the food safety of poultry products remains a severe problem in many countries around the world. Like in many other countries, the government handles the development of food safety standards in Afghanistan. The poultry industry in Afghanistan has been under dynamic and progressive development. Despite the advances in the poultry industry in Afghanistan, the issues of foodborne pathogens, drug and chemical residues remain. Meat inspection at poultry processing plants has been successful but has certain limitations. More importantly, drugs, pesticides, mycotoxins and other chemical residues must be monitored in poultry meat and eggs. This work must be carried out in close collaboration with human and environmental health professionals, analysts, epidemiologists, food producers, processors and traders. Poultry veterinarians and the Afghanistan Veterinary Organization, International Veterinary Organization (IVO) should play a decision-making role in developing the poultry industry. Poultry veterinarians and IVO have a dual responsibility; epidemiological surveillance of poultry diseases and ensuring the safety of meat and eggs. Through their presence on farms and appropriate collaboration with farmers, poultry veterinarians play a crucial role in ensuring that birds are kept under hygienic conditions, especially conditions with public health significance. Slaughterhouse inspection of live birds (ante mortem) and the carcass (post-mortem) plays a key role in the surveillance network for poultry diseases and zoonosis and ensures the safety of poultry meat.