Shanghai plans to set up a quarantine farm for livestock and
poultry brought into the city without proper certificates, so the
animals can be properly tested for diseases before they are sold in
local markets.
The farm is expected to be completed and go into operation by
the end of next year, officials revealed Monday.
"The farm will function to guarantee security and the hygienic
condition of animals and animal products on the local market and
stop epidemic diseases from spreading through transport," said Hou
Peixing, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Veterinary
Hygienic Supervision.
He said suspicious livestock, poultry and animal products, such
as those with invalid quarantine certificates or certificates that
don't match with the products and are suspected of being infected
with diseases, will be sent to the farm for further checks.
Livestock is only allowed to enter the city through eight
highway entrances.
Inspectors check the certificates of the products before
allowing them into Shanghai.
The government is tightening up checks these days because over
half of the poultry sold on the local market comes from outside of
the city.
Officials also patrol non-designated entrances to the city, to
prevent people from smuggling chickens into Shanghai. Trucks
carrying livestock through those entrances are stopped, and forced
to go back to one of the designated access points.
"I can assure you that 97 percent of the livestock and poultry
on the market entered the city in the legal way and about 3 percent
came in illegally," said Shi Xingzhong, deputy director of the
Shanghai Agricultural Commission.
He said it is very tough for vendors to sell livestock that is
brought in improperly, because they don't have proper
certificates.
The farm, which is expected to cover about 3,000 square meters,
will be located in Jiading District near the Outer Ring Road so
that it is convenient for truckers to bring livestock for
check.
"Only suspicious animals will be sent to the farm. Animals that
are proved to be sick will be disposed directly in a treatment
station for dead livestock and poultry in Fengxian District," Hou
said.
(Shanghai Daily November 1, 2005)