Beijing will start a two-month-long crackdown on meats processed
at illegal factories or that are sneaked onto the Beijing market
without going through sanitation checks, officials said on
Wednesday.
The crackdown aimed at improving food safety for Beijing
residents will begin on Thursday and will cover pork, beef, mutton
and poultry, said officials with the Beijing animal sanitation
office.
Only meats processed at registered factories can be legally sold
in Beijing. However, some greedy businessmen sell meat from dead or
sick animals and unchecked poultry, posing a threat to
consumers.
Government officials will inspect road crossings, wholesale
markets and restaurants to crack down on illicit meat.
Nearly 60 percent of the pork and 60 to 80 percent of the beef
and mutton on the Beijing market are from other provinces and
regions, according to officials.
Under Beijing's new supervision system on incoming animals and
animal products -- to be introduced in June -- 28 highway
checkpoints around the city will share real-time monitoring and
voice data.
(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2007)