China to end sale of live poultry at wet markets
China has vowed to gradually phase out the slaughter and sale of live poultry at food markets. Wet markets often come under suspicion when new disease outbreaks are tracked and traced.
The announcement came as China stepped up inspections of wholesale food markets and outlawed the sale and consumption of wildlife, after a recent Covid-19 outbreak in Beijing was traced back to a major agricultural wholesale market, reports the French Press Agency.
China will restrict the trade and slaughter of live poultry, encourage the mass slaughter of live poultry in places with certain conditions and gradually close live poultry markets.”
According to Chen Xu, an official at the State Administration of Market Regulation, “China will restrict the trade and slaughter of live poultry, encourage the mass slaughter of live poultry in places with certain conditions and gradually close live poultry markets.”
“It is understood that more than 70% of meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables enter the market through wholesale agricultural markets.”
He urged local governments across China to strengthen the supervision of food safety at agricultural wholesale markets and to investigate hidden safety risks. “It is understood that more than 70% of meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables enter the market through wholesale agricultural markets,” he said. There are reportedly over 4,100 wholesale markets nationwide.
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