Taiwan to Ban Live Poultry Trade and Slaughter in Traditional Markets

Strategic Insights -

The Taiwanese government has announced plans to ban the live poultry trade and slaughter in traditional markets around the country, starting from April 2008, in a bid to prevent avian flu outbreaks. The ban will give those involved in the live poultry trade and slaughter a six-month grace period to adjust their businesses. The government has also approved a project to construct 20 new electrical slaughterhouses and encourage the construction of more small-scale electrical slaughterhouses to ensure that customers can still purchase fresh poultry.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Taiwanese government will ban the live poultry trade and slaughter in traditional markets from April 2008 to prevent avian flu outbreaks.
  • The ban will give those involved in the live poultry trade and slaughter a six-month grace period from April 2008 to October 2008 to adjust their businesses.
  • Violators of the policy will face fines of up to NT$500,000 (US$15,197) and will have any slaughtered poultry destroyed.
  • The government has approved a project to construct 20 new electrical slaughterhouses and encourage the construction of more small-scale electrical slaughterhouses.
  • Poultry vendors can apply for subsidies for the purchase of refrigerators and machines for packing frozen food to help them adjust to the new policy.
  • Taiwan has a denser population and higher ratio of traditional markets compared to countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, where human cases of avian flu have been reported.

Statistics:

  • 20 new electrical slaughterhouses will be constructed around Taiwan to allow customers to continue to enjoy fresh poultry.
  • 23 existing electrical slaughterhouses will remain operational.
  • The six-month grace period will give those involved in the live poultry trade and slaughter time to adjust to the new policy.
  • NT$500,000 (US$15,197) will be the maximum fine imposed on violators of the policy.
  • The Taiwanese government has estimated that the ban will lead to significant reductions in the risk of avian flu outbreaks.

Sources:

  • Executive Yuan announcement
  • Council of Agriculture (COA) Vice Minister Hu Fu-hsiung
  • Vice Economics Minister Shih Yen-shiang
  • National Science Council Minister Chen Chien-jen
  • Council of Labor Affairs Minister Lee Ying-yuan
  • Asia Pulse
  • CNA