Live poultry industry slowly picking up

Wang, a vendor from Anhui province, sells live chickens at Hongmiao agricultural produce market in Shanghai on Thursday, about two months after a ban on sales of live poultry was imposed following the H7N9 avian flu outbreak. GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY

Going to the market to buy a live chicken was the first thing on Wu Hongmin's schedule this weekend.

When the 51-year-old housewife heard the news that live poultry markets in Shanghai would reopen after being shut down for more than two months since the outbreak of the H7N9 bird flu, she was pleased.

"I'm delighted that fresh chicken is back on our table, and I think the poultry will be much safer than before because of the more restricted examination process," said Wu, who believes live poultry tastes better and is more nutritious.

The first group of markets, including 200 retailers and two wholesale venues, reopened on Thursday, selling live chickens, pigeons and quails.

Previously, there were three wholesale markets and 461 retailers.

The new regulation on live poultry trading states that all markets must carry out regular examinations on sellers, equipment facilities, animal epidemic prevention, food safety and environmental protection.

Poultry may only be slaughtered in the selected markets.

Other live poultry such as ducks and geese remaines unavailable.

"We've spent more than two months checking things and decorating to get ready for the reopening," said Gu Yaofeng, director of the general affairs office of the Shanghai Agriculture Central Wholesale Market.

On Thursday, the market sold 1,500 chickens and 950 pigeons, a sharp decrease compared with a combined figure of 20,000 to 30,000 per day before the bird flu outbreak. But Gu said the market will make a full recovery soon.