Avian flu prevention level raised: Executive Yuan establishes epidemic response center
To prevent the further spread of avian influenza, the Executive Yuan today (1/14) established the "Avian Influenza Outbreak Response Center," with Executive Yuan Vice Premier Chang San-cheng serving as commander, and Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Bao-ji and Minister without Portfolio Yeh Shing-cheng as deputy commanders, using a three-axis epidemic prevention mechanism to control the outbreak, and demanding that the Council of Agriculture promptly complete subsidies and low-interest loans for poultry culling, to help operators resume farming.
Executive Yuan spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said that the three-axis epidemic prevention mechanism of the Avian Influenza Outbreak Response Center is as follows: the first axis has the Council of Agriculture work with local governments to establish a regional joint defense mechanism; the second axis is formed by the Council of Agriculture together with relevant central government agencies and local governments, and incorporates an expert consultation mechanism to make decisions on relevant policies and measures; the third axis has the Executive Yuan convene meetings depending on how the outbreak develops.
In terms of industry guidance, Sun Lih-chyun said the government will conduct loss investigations for affected farming operators, and will require the Council of Agriculture to complete the disbursement of subsidies within one month after culling is finished at each infected site. In addition, the Council of Agriculture will announce by the end of January specific plans to lower the interest rate on special project loans and extend the loan period, to reduce operators' losses and help them resume farming.
In terms of people's livelihood and the economy, Sun Lih-chyun said the Executive Yuan's Consumer Protection Division and the Fair Trade Commission have already launched market investigations into the sales prices of various types of poultry. For hoarding and price gouging, the Ministry of Justice's prosecutorial authorities will investigate strictly and swiftly in accordance with the law. To mitigate the outbreak's impact on the supply of daily necessities, the Council of Agriculture will adopt various response plans including emergency imports to address the supply situation for poultry and related products. In addition, to facilitate the allocation of imported materials, the Ministry of Finance will take timely flexible measures to lower the import tariff rates on related poultry meat and egg products, to help stabilize domestic prices and adjust the domestic supply of materials.