August 24, 2005

China considers law on livestock farming following pig disease epidemic

China was expected to enact a law on livestock farming to ensure meat and poultry safety for consumers, following the country's recent pig disease epidemic.

China's government said small-scale, scattered livestock farming within the country worked against epidemic prevention and control. Thus a law was needed to regulate the farming industry in this area.

So far, the draft law submitted for consideration encouraged farmers to build large-scale fields. It also required large household farmers and farm owners to establish breeding records, which could support investigations into animal breeding processes.

The draft also had specific stipulations on farm locations, use of veterinary feed and medicines, contamination control and management of animal symptoms.

In addition, all livestock farmers were required to report any animal epidemic situation to local authorities and take measures to curb epidemic diseases. Farmers would be given the right to claim reasonable compensation for diseased livestock culled by the government.

Total output value of China's livestock farming in 2004 was about US$149 billion, or 33.6 percent of total agriculture output value, according to the government. As such, the government acknowledged epidemics such as bird flu and the pig-borne disease posed a serious risk to domestic animal meat, poultry and even human health.