August 23, 2004    

China Urge Fair Treatment From Developed Countries for Its Exports of Poultry Products

An eFeedLink Exclusive Report 
  

More than 100 key business leaders in China's poultry industry congregated in Beijing recently to discuss the way ahead for the industry. The main theme of the meeting was  the imposition of a total ban on China's poultry products by certain developed countries following the outbreak of the avian flu in the country early this year. They urged these countries to stop the imposition of such discriminatory practices, which they said are a form of barrier to free trade.                           

The business leaders opposed the complete ban on China's poultry exports as unfair trade practices because only birds in certain parts of China were affected by the avian flu early this year. They highlighted Japan's position in its ban on the imports of certain American agricultural products. Japan only barred the imports of American poultry products from specific areas, which were affected by the virus.   

However, the Japanese government adopts a different stance towards China when they slapped a blanket ban on poultry products from China. Such unfair practices have adversely affected China's exports of poultry products.

In their efforts to put a stop to such unfair practices the business leaders have asked the Chinese diplomatic mission to step up negotiations in urging foreign countries to give impartial treatment to China's agricultural products, in accordance to the guidelines of the World Organisation for Animal Health.

In 2003, a total of 9.3 billion live birds were slaughtered in China and the country produced 14 million tons of poultry meat, accounting for more than 18% of the world's total poultry meat output. China's production of 26 million tons of poultry eggs in 2003 make up 43% of the world's total output.