This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
On July 3, 2020, China announced plans to restrict the trading and slaughter of live poultry, a move aimed at reducing the risk of animal-to-human transmission of diseases like COVID-19.
The decision comes after a recent COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing was linked to a major agricultural wholesale market, where live animals were sold.
According to Chen Xu, an official at the State Administration of Market Regulation, China will encourage the mass slaughter of live poultry in places with certain conditions and gradually close live poultry markets.
Live poultry is commonly sold at agricultural wholesale food markets and 'wet markets' across China, where it is traditionally butchered on the spot by stallholders or buyers can opt to slaughter the live animal at home.
Scientists believe the COVID-19 pathogen originated in bats before jumping to humans through a yet-unknown animal intermediary.
China has more than 4,100 wholesale markets nationwide, and the announcement was welcomed by animal rights groups, including PETA Asia, which hopes the government will continue to ban all live-animal markets nationwide.
