Powell Insurance has announced the addition of voluntary slaughter cover to its comprehensive range of insurance products developed for the poultry industry, believed to be the first cover of its type available.
The cover has been developed in response to the additional challenges facing producers as the new EU salmonella rules for commercial laying flocks come into force on 1 January 2008. The regulation seeks to exclude eggs from salmonella positive flocks from entering the food chain unless heat treated.
As Andy Dutton, business development manager explains, the cover is for the voluntary slaughter of poultry following positive tests for salmonella. The cover indemnifies the producer for the value of the birds at the time of the loss and covers free range, barn and caged birds.
Cover is available for flocks of 5000 birds and above only and is subject to a site survey, underwriting and an agreed salmonella action plan. There is no upper limit to the cover.
Mr Dutton adds: "We have worked closely with the industry to develop an insurance product that gives additional protection to egg producers as the salmonella rules come into play. We believe that we are the first broker to provide cover for voluntary slaughter in the event of salmonella infection.
"While eggs from infected flocks can be heat treated to make them suitable for sale it is seldom economically viable, leaving voluntary slaughter as the only practical option. The costs incurred from voluntary slaughter can be very significant so this cover allows producers to replace their stock of birds quickly and with minimal losses."