What is a biosecurity measure? A definition proposal for animal production and linked processing operations

While biosecurity, a central component of the One Health concept, is clearly defined, a harmonized definition of
the term ´biosecurity measure´(BSM) is missing. In turn, particularly at the farm and policy level, this leads to
misunderstandings, low acceptance, poor implementation, and thus suboptimal biosecurity along the food animal
production chain. Moreover, different views on BSMs affects making comparisons both at the policy level as
well as in the scientific community. Therefore, as part of the One Health EJP BIOPIGEE project, a work group i)
collected and discussed relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria for measures to be considered in the context of
biosecurity and ii) conducted a systematic literature review for potentially existing definitions for the term BSM.
This exercise confirmed the lack of a definition of BSM, underlining the importance of the topic. In the pool of
articles considered relevant to defining the term BSM, specific research themes were identified. Based on these
outcomes, we propose a definition of the term BSM:
“A biosecurity measure (BSM) – is the implementation of a segregation, hygiene, or management procedure
(excluding medically effective feed additives and preventive/curative treatment of animals) that specifically
aims at reducing the probability of the introduction, establishment, survival, or spread of any potential pathogen
to, within, or from a farm, operation or geographical area.”
The definition provides a basis for policymakers to identify factual BSMs, highlights the point of implementation
and supports to achieve the necessary quality standards of biosecurity in food animal production. It
also enables clear, harmonized, cross-sectoral communication of best biosecurity practices to and from relevant
stakeholders and thus contribute to improving biosecurity and thereby strengthen the One Health approach.