China has set up an animal epidemic prevention and control
center as well as a national animal husbandry station, the Ministry
of Agriculture said Friday.
The move is part of China's efforts to adjust and reform the
nation's animal husbandry and animal quarantine system, said Vice
Minister Yi Chengjie at the opening ceremony.
He said the reform will further help improve the ministry's
medical system in the animal husbandry and quarantine sectors and
enhance China's ability in the prevention and control of the
outbreak of animal epidemics.
It will also upgrade the animal husbandry industry in the
nation's overall economic development and help increase farmers'
income, he said.
The move came in line with the country's need to build a new
socialist countryside which expects fast and sound development of
agriculture and the rural economy, Yi said.
The step also aims at ensuring public health security and
promoting the healthy development of China's animal husbandry
industry.
According to Yi, the center will be responsible for analyzing
the nation's animal epidemics situation and dealing with the
prevention and control of the outbreak of major animal epidemics
and inspecting the quality of livestock and poultry products.
The station will be in charge of the spread of technologies
concerning the animal husbandry industry and the protection of
animal husbandry resources, as well as providing technical services
for fodder and milk industries.
(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2006)