Beijing Municipal Government issued an emergency notice Wednesday, calling for tighter controls over prices of bird flu-related commodities and services.

The notice, released by Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, said price administrations should take effective measures to ensure stable prices of bird flu vaccines, poultry products, and animal food and medicines.

Sterilization of poultry farms should be free of charge and enterprises producing bird flu vaccines must refrain from raising prices, said the notice.

The commission also opened a hotline with the number 12358 to receive complaints about prices.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)