An official Chinese agency reports that the Jakarta administration plans to force traditional market poultry sellers out of the city in an effort to prevent outbreaks of avian influenza in the capital. They were citing Jakarta Globe, which carried the quote from an official.

"As we are closing down their businesses, they will have to find alternative ventures," said Edy Setiarto, head of Jakarta's Husbandry, Fisheries and Maritime Agency.

Vendors would not be allowed to sell live chickens in or to traditional markets by April 2010.

He declined to say whether the city would compensate vendors for business losses. Only two poultry processing plants, both run by the agency in Cakung and Rawa Kepiting, East Jakarta, will be permitted to distribute chicken meat to traditional markets in the city.

"The move was part of measures to implement a 2007 poultry-restriction bylaw aimed at controlling the sale of poultry in Jakarta," he said.

The bylaw aims to prevent future outbreaks of bird flu and other diseases in the city.

Further Reading

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You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.