New law set out to tackle farm diseases
By Huan Xin (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-24 05:45

In addition, farm owners will have to register their farms and establish breeding records, which will also record the use of veterinary feed and medicine.

Farmers will be required to report outbreaks to local animal epidemic prevention agencies and take measures to curb infections.

If diseased stock and birds are ordered culled, farmers are entitled to claim compensation, the draft says.

The draft bill does not include regulations on the slaughtering and circulation of meat products, as these are the remit of other laws, Shu said.

To address problems such as the weakening of gene pools, the undermining of breeding stocks, and outbreaks of animal-related epidemics, the country has an urgent need for an integrated animal husbandry law, he said.

China has 576 animal and poultry breeds or lines, ranking it among the richest in the world, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Over the past 20 years, however, at least 10 species have vanished and 20 more are on the verge of extinction in China due to inadequate protection measures, Shu said in explaining the draft law to the legislature.

The legislation will ensure steps are taken to protect the country's domestic animal genetic resources.

If key genetic resources are exported, the draft law states China shall share benefits arising from research and development of species.

At the National People's Congress, a bill goes through three steps of examination, called "three readings," before it is subject to vote.

The draft law on animal husbandry will undergo the first reading at the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee, scheduled to conclude on Sunday.

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