Chinese New Year poultry to be checked

CHINA - The Department of Livestock Development has ordered the examination of all poultry on sale in Bangkok’s Chinatown for Chinese New Year. Livestock officials in Bangkok have also urged people who want to buy raw chicken or duck at slaughter houses during the Chinese New Year to check for official safety stickers which guarantee that the poultry are free of germs.

Livestock officials are checking the slaughter houses to prevent low quality poultry being sent to the market.

Owners of a slaughter house with no license will face up to six month jail and 10,000 baht fine.

The tightening of controls are aimed at preventing the spread of bird flu to Bangkok during a time when many more chickens and ducks are transported to the capital to meet the demand of Chinese-Thais as they pay respect to their ancestors with food made from poultry.

9 February 2005