January 15, 2007

China to invest in animal disease prevention

China plans to set up an animal disease prevention system to cut losses from outbreaks of ailments such as avian flu by as much as RMB 17 billion (US$2.18 billion) a year and boost exports, the State Council said.

The government plans to invest RMB 8.8 billion (US$1.13 billion) in the agency by 2008, the State Council, China's Cabinet, said in a statement posted on its website today.

The country has been concerned over recent bans on Chinese import of meat products in the event of diseases like avian influenza. Hong Kong's ban on pork imports from China in Aug 2005 following an outbreak of pig streptococcus bacteria is a case in point.

The disease control system could boost farmers' incomes by RMB50 per head a year and help protect exports, the State Council said. Local governments would provide RMB 3.2 billion for the system and the central government the balance, it said.

China is expected to export US$1.5 billion more livestock and poultry products in 2008 than in 2003, and total agricultural output might be RMB1.8 trillion in 2008, said the report.