HACCP and QAFP on a poultry farm: what you need to know and document
Full HACCP is not required in primary production — but GHP, GMP and thorough documentation are. Find out what QAFP auditors expect and how digital records make passing an audit easier.
verifiedFrom the team that has organised work on poultry farms for years.
Is HACCP mandatory on a poultry farm?
Regulation EC 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs requires food business operators to apply HACCP principles — but poultry farms, as primary producers, are partially exempt. At the primary production stage, good hygiene practices (GHP) and good agricultural/manufacturing practices (GAP/GMP), supported by records, are sufficient. Full HACCP with hazard analysis and critical control points (CCPs) becomes mandatory only at the processing stage — in a slaughterhouse or cutting plant, for example.
What are GHP and GMP in a farm context?
Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) are cleanliness and hygiene rules that protect food from contamination at every stage. On a poultry farm they cover staff personal hygiene, the condition of buildings and equipment, water quality, disinfection, pest control, and feed storage. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) relate to how production is carried out — including the correct use of veterinary medicines, feeds, and permitted substances. Together, GHP and GMP form the foundation of food safety on the farm.
What records must a poultry farm keep?
Regulations require several categories of records. Veterinary treatment records — every medicine administered: name, dose, date, withdrawal period, prescribing vet. Feed and raw material records — suppliers, batch numbers, analysis. Mortality and laboratory results log. Biosecurity records — farm entries, disinfection, pest control. Welfare log — stocking density, ventilation, access to feed and water. DlaFerm.pl lets you keep all these records digitally, available on demand during inspections.
Related guides
Related topics are covered in: Poultry farm biosecurity, Treatment records and drug withdrawal, and Veterinary approval number — registration.
Good hygiene practices on a poultry farm — 6 key areas
These requirements flow from Regulation EC 852/2004 and are the foundation of food safety in primary production.
Worker and visitor hygiene
People working with birds should wear clean protective clothing and footwear. Hands must be washed before entering and after leaving the poultry house. Sick workers should not have contact with birds.
Condition of buildings and equipment
Poultry houses and equipment must be kept in a state that allows thorough cleaning and disinfection. Damaged floors, leaking roofs, and corroded drinkers are contamination risk factors.
Water quality and safety
Water supplied to birds should meet drinking-water standards or equivalent quality requirements for primary production. Regular microbiological testing is considered good practice.
Feed storage and use
Feed should be stored in conditions that protect it from moisture, rodents, and wild birds. The batch number and supplier for every delivery should be entered in the feed record.
Cleaning, disinfection and pest control (DDD)
After every production cycle the poultry house must be cleaned and disinfected before restocking. The DDD schedule (disinfection, insect control, rodent control) should be documented.
Pest control programme
Rodents and insects are vectors of Salmonella and other pathogens. The pest control programme must include regular rodent control, insect control, and mesh-guarded ventilation openings.
QAFP for chicken and turkey — what it is and what auditors check
QAFP (Quality Assurance for Food Products) is a voluntary quality system for poultry meat that opens access to premium markets and price bonuses.
What is QAFP?
QAFP is a voluntary national food quality scheme recognised by the Polish Ministry of Agriculture, covering chicken and turkey. Producers and processors in the scheme undergo regular audits confirming they meet welfare, nutrition, biosecurity, and traceability requirements.
Farm requirements under QAFP
A farm in QAFP must ensure: stocking density no higher than 33 kg/m² (or 39 kg/m² with additional welfare conditions met), welfare assessed using Welfare Quality® indicators (footpad dermatitis, mortality, body condition), feed free of antibiotic growth promoters, and traceability from chick to slaughterhouse.
Welfare as the key audit criterion
QAFP auditors assess footpad dermatitis scores, flock mortality, and welfare indicators at lairage. Results below the threshold lead to a negative finding or a corrective action order. An up-to-date welfare observation log is a key piece of evidence during the audit.
Biosecurity requirements in QAFP
QAFP requires a documented biosecurity plan and evidence of compliance. The auditor checks the entry log, the state of disinfection mats, cleaning and disinfection procedures after each cycle, and the quarantine of new birds.
Traceability and feed documentation
Every feed batch must have supplier and composition documentation. QAFP requires traceability from chick through feed to finished meat — in practice this means retaining invoices, feed certificates, and test results.
Benefits of QAFP membership
Products carrying the QAFP certificate achieve higher purchase prices from integrators and retail chains. The certificate also enables participation in premium-meat tenders and builds consumer trust in Polish poultry.
Frequently asked questions about HACCP and QAFP on a poultry farm
Is HACCP implementation mandatory on a poultry farm?add
Not in full. Poultry farms as primary producers are exempt from implementing a full HACCP system (with hazard analysis and CCPs) under Regulation EC 852/2004. They are, however, required to follow good hygiene and agricultural practices (GHP/GMP/GAP) and to document health events, treatments, and biosecurity measures.
How does QAFP differ from veterinary requirements?add
Veterinary requirements (Veterinary Inspection) are mandatory for every farm. QAFP is a voluntary quality scheme — joining it is a farmer’s choice or stems from a contract with an integrator. QAFP sets stricter welfare, nutrition, and traceability standards than the legal minimum, but in return opens markets and quality premiums.
What records does a QAFP auditor check?add
A QAFP auditor checks: veterinary treatment records, feed records (batches, suppliers, certificates), biosecurity documentation (entries, disinfection, pest control), welfare observation log (mortalities, interventions), footpad dermatitis scores at slaughter, and post-cycle cleaning and disinfection records.
Are digital records in DlaFerm.pl accepted by auditors?add
Yes. There is no regulation requiring paper records — what matters is completeness, legibility, and accessibility. Digital records from DlaFerm.pl can be printed or shown directly on screen. The key is that the data contains the required fields: date, medicine/dose/responsible person, or equivalent for each record type.
How often are QAFP audits carried out?add
QAFP audits are conducted by an accredited certification body — usually once a year plus one unannounced audit. Farms newly entering the scheme may be subject to more frequent checks in the first year. Exact rules are set by the certification body and the contract with the integrator.
Can a small family farm obtain QAFP certification?add
Yes, there is no minimum flock size. Requirements relate mainly to stocking density (up to 33 kg/m²), welfare, feed free of antibiotic growth promoters, and complete documentation. Many smaller family farms operate within QAFP through a contract with an integrator who covers part of the audit costs.
Sources & resources
- linkQAFP system — official programme website (qafp.pl)
- linkRegulation EC 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (EUR-Lex)
- linkKRD-IG — Polish Poultry Council Industry Chamber
- linkChief Sanitary Inspectorate — food hygiene rules (GIS gov.pl)
- linkChief Veterinary Inspectorate — primary production and hygiene requirements
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