The halt of exports of poultry from China's six provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including Guangdong Province, has had a serious impact on chicken markets in Shenzhen.

"Before the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Futian Agricultural Produce Wholesale Market alone sold more than 100,000 chickens a day, but the market sold only a few more than 1,000 Sunday," said Dan Kui, deputy director of Shenzhen Animal Epidemic Prevention and Monitoring Center.

The city stopped supplying live chickens to Hong Kong after the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine decided Friday to stop exports of poultry and related products from six possible bird flu-hit provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

Dan said there were nine major poultry wholesale markets in the city, which were mainly located in Futian, Nanshan, Bao'an and Longgang districts.

Last year, these markets sold a total of 53.53 million chickens, Dan said. There were a total of 232 poultry farms in the city, of which 67 were the sole supply of local markets while the rest supplied Hong Kong.

Last year alone, the city exported a total of 19 million chickens to Hong Kong, Dan said.

"Relevant government departments at all levels in the city are stepping up inspection and quarantine on all poultry farms, poultry wholesale and retailing markets to beef up chicken consumption in the city," Dan said.

(Shenzhen Daily February 2, 2004)