Free Republic

Authorities in eastern China have banned live poultry sales after an increase in the number of people infected with the H7N9 strain of bird flu, state media reported Tuesday, with the busy Chinese New Year travel period already under way. So far this year, H7N9 has killed 19 people in China and infected 96, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. …

U.S. officials have given the thumbs-up to four Chinese poultry plants, paving the way for the country to send processed chicken to American markets, according to audit reports obtained by POLITICO. The audit reports expected to be made public Friday show that the Chinese processing plants passed U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections performed in March and the positive results make it likely the foreign producers soon will become eligible to export to the U.S According to the audit, at first, China will only be able to process chicken that has been slaughtered in the U.S. or other certified countries.