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)