Tighter Regulations For German Poultry Farms

German Consumer Protection Minister Renate Künast announced new emergency regulations for poultry and fowl farms on Friday in light of the spiraling avian flu crisis in Asia. Livestock owners will now have to immediately report to the authorities if more than three percent of their animals die within 24 hours or even if their birds' egg-laying capacities sink drastically. Poultry farm owners will also in future have to maintain a register recording when and where the birds were bought or sold, the name of the transport company used as well as names of previous owners and future buyers. "To be on the safer side, everything must be organized so that we can take immediate measures and have all the necessary data with us if a case (of bird flu) turns up," Künast said.