The General Administration of Commerce and Industry (GACI) has issued an emergency notice, demanding administrations of commerce and industry crack down on fake bird flu vaccines.

Sources with the GACI said fake vaccines had killed chickens in Xinle City, north China's Hebei Province, and were also spotted in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province.

The notice urged commerce and industry administrations at all levels to strengthen checks on animal medicine markets and shops, marketplaces near bird flu-affected regions, and markets in rural areas.

Dealers in fake avian influenza vaccines would be severely punished according to the law, said the notice.

(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2004)