Government is responsible for failing to act promptly: JCP Hatano on bird flu

Japanese Communist Party representative Hatano Kimie used the March 8 meeting of the House of Councilors Audit Committee to question the government on the outbreak of avian influenza. "The government is responsible for the disease spreading," she said.

Showing a list of chickens, chicken meat, and eggs shipped from an infected poultry farm in Kyoto Prefecture to meat processors and other dealers in 23 prefectures, Hatano criticized the government for having neglected to take necessary initial measures to prevent the damage by the infectious disease from spreading.

Hatano pointed out that although an immediate alarm is essential for the prevention of epidemics, the Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law only requires veterinarians, not poultry farmers who raise more than one million chickens, to report suspicious cases of infection to relevant authorities.

Hatano also said that if a system of compensating livestock farmers for damage is legislated, they would immediately report on possible infections to relevant authorities and an appropriate prevention system could be established. Hatano demanded that the government revise the current law so that all livestock farmers are required to report disease outbreaks and be compensated for damages. (end)