The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has launched a campaign for poultry safety ahead of the Chinese New Year festival, reports Thai-ASEAN News Network.

Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, Yukol Limlaemthong, said the ministry has launched a campaign to ensure poultry safety during the Chinese New Year festival.

Under this campaign, poultry will be tagged with a label on which a six-digit code is printed. The code can be used for deriving information including where the fowl was farmed and slaughtered and when it underwent tests for food safety as well as when it was delivered to the fresh market.

About two million chickens and ducks are included in this programme.

People buying groceries are advised to look for the poultry safety sign at local fresh markets which signifies products that are part of the campaign.

Deputy Director-General of Livestock Development Department, Chaweewan Viriyapark, said the department has registered 1,321 farms, 798 slaughterhouses and 1,200 poultry sellers in the campaign.

She noted that all poultry operators are subject to strict inspection and control by livestock department officials.

Ms Chaweewan added that the department's inspectors will collect samples of chicken droppings and test them for the bird flu virus.

A permit will be issued for the poultry to be transported to a stockyard after their safety is confirmed.

As for slaughterhouses, she said they must operate in compliance with good management practices and universal hygiene standards, concludes the Thai-ASEAN News Network report.