Translated by Cara Steenstra

News released by Government Information Office

In an effort to strengthen disease prevention, the Central Government has banned live slaughter of animals in traditional markets from December onwards. The Management Department of Taichung City Government's Economics Affairs Bureau has completed related investigations, and has begun the promotion of this new regulation, it is hoped that the slaughtering of livestock from traditional markets will move to meat processing works as soon as possible.

The Management Department expressed that feathers, excrement and other waste products are the main conveyors of the avian flu virus. The Central Government delayed the ban of livestock slaughtering in traditional markets till December because it needed time to improve the situation, to make sure that livestock slaughtering facilities are sufficient.

The Management Department also expressed that household livestock can be slaughtered at home for own use, but are banned from being sold commercially. And from December onwards, livestock slaughtering will be banned at traditional markets, any violations of this regulation, or persons selling home slaughtered livestock will be penalized, the penalty is still under consideration.