May 1, 2014

 

In Guangzhou province in China, the downtown districts of Yuexiu and Liwan and the university town in Panyu district have been selected as pilot areas to allow only frozen poultry be sold at local markets and bazaars starting May 5th.

 

The ban in these pilot areas is ahead of the implementation of centralised slaughter of poultry over the entire city from October this year.

 

According to the Guangzhou Administration of Food Safety, all poultry in the three districts will be slaughtered at appointed slaughterhouses and frozen before going to markets, to prevent people from being infected with bird flu.

 

He Jianfeng, chief expert at Guangdong's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the centralised system will reduce the number of people who have contact with live poultry and will help lower the risk of being infected with bird flu.

 

"Many business owners mix their poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, quails and doves in the coops in markets," he said, which raises the risk of infection.

 

"Banning live poultry in local markets is of great significance in preventing bird flu from spreading, which has a high annual incidence of flu in winter and spring," he added.

 

According to a recent survey, as much as 53% of Guangzhou residents think banning live poultry in local markets would help improve sanitary conditions in markets and prevent bird flu from spreading. Thirty-eight percent opposed the ban.

 

More than 66% think the original flavor and texture of the dishes will be spoiled when cooked with frozen chickens. For instance, the boss of Shengji Lubian Chicken Restaurant said the original flavor and texture of baiqieji (boiled sliced chicken) will be spoiled if frozen chickens are used, breaking it's over 38-year tradition of using only fresh chicken.

 

Meanwhile, in Shanghai, live poultry markets that were closed between January 31 and April 30 reopens on May 1st. A total of 119 retail trade spots and two live poultry wholesale markets were closed under the seasonal ban.

 

However, authorities said that previously designated live fowl trading spots must first pass strict inspections of hygiene and disease control, animal epidemic prevention, food security and environmental protection first before resuming business, said the Shanghai Commerce Commission.

 

After resuming business, they will also be required to obtain safety certificates from suppliers and halt business at least one day a week to sterilise premises and equipment, said the commission.

 

Shanghai will eventually eliminate live poultry sales, said the commission. To this end, authorities will continue supporting chilled poultry sales, encouraging new habits through more outlets, and promoting brand-building, it said.

 

However, lawmakers have discovered in investigations that some supermarkets and food markets failed to store chilled chicken at the proper temperature, according to xinmin.cn.

 

Four supermarkets and food markets in downtown were investigated yesterday. Temperatures in some refrigerators containing chicken were found to be between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius, above the maximum temperature of four degrees Celsius, said the report.