August 29, 2006

Taiwan to ban live poultry trading in markets next year

Taiwan would be following the footsteps of Hong Kong and Singapore and phase out the live poultry trade and slaughtering in traditional markets by 2008 to prevent future bird flu outbreaks, an official said Monday (Aug 28).

The Cabinet is expected to present alternative poultry-slaughtering measures next month.

Plans have been afoot since President Chen Shui-bian instructed the relevant ministries to look into halting live poultry slaughter in traditional markets at a national security meeting on avian flu in March.

An ad hoc group was formed and would present its suggestions next month. Measures likely to be proposed include more certified electrical slaughterhouses and increased education to raise disease awareness among poultry vendors and the public.

The plan to halt the live poultry trade was protested strongly by poultry vendors initially as they feared their business would be affected. However, they have since been persuaded that these measures would benefit them in the long run, a Taipei City Government official said.