(CN) Animal-born diseases/Unsafe farm products

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Scientists call for more attention on animal-born diseases

2006-10-25

 

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists called on to set up a monitoring

system on the animal-born diseases in China and strengthen the cooperation

between the medical research of animal and human being.

 

At a recent scientific forum held in East China's Shanghai, Wen Yumei, a member

of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said China lacks the basic research on

animal-born diseases for a long time.

 

Among the 1,145 known infectious diseases of human being, 62 percent come from

animals, scientists say.

 

Researches on some animal diseases have been conducted. But thediseases are new

problems for human disease researchers when they are spread to human being,

because the separate research of the two fields, said Wen.

 

Rabies has emerged on the top of public health agenda in China, with 2,254

rabies cases recorded in the first nine months of this year, an increase of

29.69 percent over the same period last year.

 

But researchers have no clear idea about the epidemic situation among wild dogs.

 

China suffered a lot from animal diseases in recent years. In 2003, the deadly

outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was believed to be linked

to civet cats.

 

China has reported 21 human infections of bird flu since 2003, including 14

deaths.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday warned of a new outbreak of bird flu as

winter is coming

 

In China's plan of scientific and technological development (2006-2020), the

surveillance, quarantine, testing and diagnosis of animal-born diseases were

listed as crucial tasks.

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/25/content_5249115.htm

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China bans sales of unsafe farm products starting Nov. 1

2006-10-25

 

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China will ban sales of farm products that fail to

meet safety standards starting Nov. 1, said An Jian, deputy director of the

Commission of Legislative Affairs of the National People's Congress Standing

Committee on Wednesday.

 

The country's first law on farm product safety goes into effect on Nov. 1, said

the official.

 

An said the law will play a key role in ensuring farm product safety, preserving

public health and promoting the development of agriculture and the rural

economy.

 

The law will establish a farm product safety supervision and management system

as well as a farm product source registration system to ensure the country's

food safety, he said.

 

A farm product safety risk analysis and appraisal system and an identification

system for high quality, pesticide-free farm products will also be set up.

 

Those who fail to observe the farm product safety law will be punished, he said.

 

An said that, if firmly applied, the new regulations will guarantee China's farm

product safety.

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/25/content_5248835.htm