The Shenzhen government is considering setting up central slaughterhouses for live poultry in an effort to avert an outbreak of bird flu.

The industry and commerce bureau, which regulates poultry markets, has worked out a draft plan and circulated it among related government departments. It is awaiting a nod from the city leaders, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

Local poultry dealers and residents found themselves in a difficult situation after an order was issued by the provincial industry and commerce authorities at the beginning of March banning the slaughter of live poultry.

They said the order had inconvenienced their businesses and lives, as many people preferred buying fresh poultry instead of processed meat.

In a meeting chaired by vice mayors Liu Yingli and Zhuo Qinrui on March 10, the industry and commerce bureau was asked to work on a plan that would meet the requirements of its superiors, as well as the demands of the general public.

Under the draft plan, centralized slaughterhouses will be built near the four wholesale poultry markets as a prelude to banning the slaughter of poultry in other wet markets, according to the Chinese newspaper.

A spokesman for the bureau refused to comment on whether the sale of live poultry will be banned in markets other than the four wholesale markets, but admitted the plan for central abattoirs was under discussion.

A head of the city's animal inspection and quarantine station recommended the city learn from Guangzhou, which set up three distinct areas for the slaughter and sale of live poultry.

The first area is for poultry sales, the second for slaughtering, and the third for the sale of freshly slaughtered poultry.

(Shenzhen Daily March 29, 2006)