Central abattoir plan for industry

The Government wants to establish a central slaughterhouse for ducks and geese to help stop the spread of bird flu, a source said yesterday.

The source said officials would consult the industry about the plan.

He said that because ducks and geese could carry the H5N1 virus without falling ill, it was of utmost importance they did not come in contact with chickens, which were more vulnerable to the disease.

'We can separate the way they are transported. The question is to ensure their hygiene condition in retail markets,' the source said.

'We are considering to continue to allow slaughtering of live chickens in markets because they would have already died if they carried the virus under the new import control system.

'Our plan now is to have the ducks and geese slaughtered in one central house in the territory before they are being sold in retail markets,' he said.