December 15, 2005

China's Xinjiang resumes poultry slaughter

Major slaughterhouses in Urumqi, China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have resumed operations after the bird flu quarantine was lifted there.

Local authorities said over 1,600 birds were slaughtered lately in three major slaughterhouses, which almost equalled the average number of birds processed before bird flu outbreaks hit the region in November.

Slaughter operations were suspended then as a preventive measure.

A local official said all slaughterhouses are required to tighten quarantine measures and step up poultry and meat inspections. They also have to provide daily reports to local authorities.