October 15, 2003

Shanghai Government Impose Rules to Tighten Hygiene Standards of Poultry Stalls

Prompted by a proposal to ban on-the-spot slaughter of poultry, China's Shanghai government has started to tighten the hygienic standards imposed on market operators.

According to the newly drafted standards, poultry stalls must be located in a relatively isolated section of the food market and be well ventilated. Stall owners must also meet certain standards for the treatment and disposal of poultry excrement. Failure to obey the drafted requirements may result in their stalls being shut down.

Cleaning up the situation won't happen in a short period, said Gao Guiming, an official with the Shanghai Economic Commission, adding that there are no state and local rules prohibiting the slaughtering of poultry in food markets.

"The stalls may be moved to the suburbs gradually. But now it is not realistic," Gao said.

The proposed ban on the slaughter of poultry in public markets was first raised by the Jiusan Society, a democratic party, which submitted a proposal to the city's People's Political Consultative Conference after the outbreak of SARS.

Many diseases are spread from animals, such as SARS.

The committee would like to see the city set up several poultry slaughter stations, just like pig slaughterhouses, in the suburbs and sell frozen products to consumers.

Veterinary experts also support the idea. They too, deem slaughtering poultry in the food market a possible means of spreading diseases and polluting the environment.