China pledged on Friday to phase out the slaughter and sale of live poultry on food markets, a move welcomed by animal rights activists in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
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The announcement came as China stepped up inspections of wholesale food markets and banned the sale and consumption of wild animals. A market selling live animals in central Wuhan City is believed to be the cradle of the Covid-19 epidemic. And the recent resurgence of the virus in Beijing has been attributed to a large agricultural wholesale market in the Chinese capital.
" China will restrict trade and slaughter of live poultry, encourage mass slaughter of live poultry in places subject to certain conditions and gradually close markets for live poultry, " said administration official Chen Xu. national market regulation, at a press conference. Live cage-raised poultry is common in wholesale agricultural markets and fresh produce markets throughout China.
Traditionally slaughtered on the spot
Poultry is traditionally slaughtered on the spot by breeders, or buyers can choose to do it at home, with some believing that it allows maximum freshness. Live seafood, amphibians and other creatures are also often sold in markets.
Scientists believe that the pathogen responsible for the coronavirus pandemic appeared in bats before spreading to humans through an as yet unknown animal. Chen Xu urged local governments to " strengthen food security surveillance in agricultural wholesale markets, " noting that " more than 70% of the meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables there are sold ”in the country.
His announcement was welcomed by animal rights groups. " We are pleased to see that live poultry markets are disappearing in China, " said Jason Baker, vice president of PETA Asia, hoping that this policy would spread to " all live animal markets." in the country ”.