China's top legislature began deliberating on Tuesday a draft amendment to the law on animal disease, in order to prevent future animal epidemics and lower their social and economic impact.

Local governments above the county level would have to set up a surveillance network to monitor animal diseases, according to the draft amendment which was tabled at the 27th session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC).

Veterinary departments at the central and provincial levels are obligated to issue early warnings against possible outbreaks based on thorough epidemiological study, according to the draft.

The draft also demands a prompt and transparent reporting system, saying all government agencies, businesses and individuals must immediately report outbreaks of animal diseases to veterinary departments.

Officials and government employees, who fail to take prompt preventative measures, delay reporting or try to cover up outbreaks of animal diseases should be disciplined, according to the draft.

The Chinese government announced earlier that it would increase investment in the prevention and control of animal epidemics and set up a new national prevention system on animal diseases by 2008.

To ensure transparency, the draft requires the State Council's veterinary department to report promptly outbreaks of animal diseases to relevant army organizations.

Information about serious outbreaks should also be reported quickly to relevant international organizations and trade partners, the draft says.

As the world's largest producer of poultry, livestock and aquatic products, China has much to lose from outbreaks of animal diseases. It is estimated that animal diseases cost China 40 billion yuan annually.

Sun Zhengcai, Minister of Agriculture, said animal epidemics in China were generally under control, but serious challenges remain as the country's animal husbandry sector continues to expand rapidly and new animal diseases keep emerging.

In March, a bird flu outbreak was successfully contained in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region after 7,000 chickens were slaughtered.

The emergency cull was conducted by the regional government after dead chickens from a market in Lhasa tested positive for the bird flu virus.

Statistics show that in 2006, China reported 10 bird flu outbreaks. Sun said China had accumulated rich experience in animal epidemic prevention, especially in the fight against highly pathogenic bird flu.

"It is time for China to write its experiences into law," he said when explaining the draft to the lawmakers.

The draft also asks government departments to step up vaccination and quarantine efforts, especially for the poultry and livestock bred in farmers' backyards.

The draft says that all businesses and individuals should comply with the compulsory vaccination policy.

Anyone who fails to vaccinate animals which fall under the category of compulsory vaccination will receive a fine and warning from the government, according to the draft.

Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture show that China vaccinated six billion poultry and 850 million livestock in the first half of 2006.

The country has also set up a monitoring network, covering 49,000 large and 80,000 individual poultry farms, 900 pig farms and 2,000 markets trading animal products.

The current Animal Epidemic Prevention Law came into effect on Jan. 1, 1998.

Source: Xinhua