China has set up an animal epidemic prevention and control center as well as a national animal husbandry station, the Ministry of Agriculture said Friday. 

The move is part of China's efforts to adjust and reform the nation's animal husbandry and animal quarantine system, said Vice Minister Yi Chengjie at the opening ceremony.

He said the reform will further help improve the ministry's medical system in the animal husbandry and quarantine sectors and enhance China's ability in the prevention and control of the outbreak of animal epidemics.

 

It will also upgrade the animal husbandry industry in the nation's overall economic development and help increase farmers' income, he said.

 

The move came in line with the country's need to build a new socialist countryside which expects fast and sound development of agriculture and the rural economy, Yi said.

 

The step also aims at ensuring public health security and promoting the healthy development of China's animal husbandry industry.

 

According to Yi, the center will be responsible for analyzing the nation's animal epidemics situation and dealing with the prevention and control of the outbreak of major animal epidemics and inspecting the quality of livestock and poultry products.

 

The station will be in charge of the spread of technologies concerning the animal husbandry industry and the protection of animal husbandry resources, as well as providing technical services for fodder and milk industries.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2006)