Veterinary - National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

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  • 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 established 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.

BEGINNING MARCH 30, 2026

NCDA&CS is implementing a registration window for flocks not currently certified in the program. This window will run from April 1st until June 30th of every year and aligns with our licensing window for NC dealers, as participants looking to sell birds off-site in NC will also be in need of this licensure.

Once registered, you will be contacted by you Veterinary Program Specialist.  They will work with you to set up a test schedule beginning with your qualification testing, which will need to take place before the end of that calendar year.  After this initial testing is done, you will be set up within the federal NPIP database and given access to produce digital 9-3 certificates, which must accompany any of your interstate bird movements.

As our annual registration window approaches, a link will appear below directing you to a Microsoft Form where you will be able to enter details on your breeder operation, confirm its eligibility, and request registration.  Please allow 5 business days for a member of the Poultry Health Programs team to follow up with you on this request.

Eligibility:

In NC this program is intended for surveillance of flocks frequently doing business out-of-state and in need of the program for access to 9-3 interstate movement documentation.  While the program may also be advantageous for those frequently carrying birds to state and county fairs in NC, a Veterinary Program Specialist should always be on-site to provide testing day-of for these in-state events.

Please be aware that, should state resources for this program become limited, in future, proof of interstate movement of birds/hatching eggs within prior certification years may be required for renewal eligibility.
 

Submit an NPIP Flock Registration Request Here!

You will be able to access the Microsoft request form at this link beginning April 1, 2026.
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