March 19, 2008

China to postpone ban of live poultry slaughter

China's government is expected to postpone the scheduled ban on live poultry slaughter at traditional markets as the industry is not ripe for it.

The ban was supposed to take effect on April 2008.

Legislator Ting Shou-chung of Taiwan said that the enforcement of the ban will leave the butchering business to just a few conglomerates that run the modern slaughterhouses on the island.

Ting made the remarks after holding a coordination meeting of poultry raisers, vendors, and officials from the Council of Agriculture (COA).

China's ban on slaughtering live chickens and ducks right in front of customers was aimed to prevent and control bird flu virus.

Some consumers also shun frozen chicken compared to the newly slaughtered chickens or ducks that do not go through a chilling or freezing process.

The policy is seen to affect the livelihoods of around 300,000 poultry vendors throughout Taiwan if the government fails to solve their problems, including providing new jobs, Ting said.

Poultry vendors insisted that the ban should only be implemented after the government has come up with adequate measures.

Hu Fu-hsiung, vice COA chairman, confirmed at the meeting that the government has not yet worked out measures to address the problems of the farmers once the ban would be implemented.