The Shenzhen government is considering setting up central
slaughterhouses for live poultry in an effort to avert an outbreak
of bird flu.
The industry and commerce bureau, which regulates poultry
markets, has worked out a draft plan and circulated it among
related government departments. It is awaiting a nod from the city
leaders, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported
yesterday.
Local poultry dealers and residents found themselves in a
difficult situation after an order was issued by the provincial
industry and commerce authorities at the beginning of March banning
the slaughter of live poultry.
They said the order had inconvenienced their businesses and
lives, as many people preferred buying fresh poultry instead of
processed meat.
In a meeting chaired by vice mayors Liu Yingli and Zhuo Qinrui
on March 10, the industry and commerce bureau was asked to work on
a plan that would meet the requirements of its superiors, as well
as the demands of the general public.
Under the draft plan, centralized slaughterhouses will be built
near the four wholesale poultry markets as a prelude to banning the
slaughter of poultry in other wet markets, according to the Chinese
newspaper.
A spokesman for the bureau refused to comment on whether the
sale of live poultry will be banned in markets other than the four
wholesale markets, but admitted the plan for central abattoirs was
under discussion.
A head of the city's animal inspection and quarantine station
recommended the city learn from Guangzhou, which set up three
distinct areas for the slaughter and sale of live poultry.
The first area is for poultry sales, the second for
slaughtering, and the third for the sale of freshly slaughtered
poultry.
(Shenzhen Daily March 29, 2006)