Aviagen Ltd's Great Grandparent, Grandparent and Pedigree facilities have been independently assessed and accredited alongside its egg depot and hatcheries by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The UK Government awarded all Aviagen facilities compartment status in April 2011.

Bill Stanley, Aviagen's veterinary health director for Europe, said: "This is another significant milestone in the journey towards global acceptance of the compartment concept.

"Security of supply has become a major issue for the poultry industry and maintaining global trade links in the face of a disease outbreak is a huge challenge for the sector. Gaining compartment status acknowledges our high biosecurity standards and provides a mechanism for uninterrupted trade."

Compartmentalisation was created as a concept by the World Organisation for Animal Health in an effort to ensure security of supply to customers during a disease outbreak in a country. The biosecurity level of facilities such as farms and hatcheries are independently assessed and those with the most stringent processes in place are certified as disease-free and are allowed to continue exporting live birds even if a disease is detected elsewhere in the country.

However, the initiative will only work if the government of the importing country has accepted the compartmentalisation concept.

Mr Stanley added: "Compartmentalisation is a UK primary breeder initiative that is being championed by the UK Government. It is our firm belief that governments around the world will be encouraged by this initiative."