All poultry shops selling live chicken in residential areas of Abu Dhabi and its suburbs have been directed to slaughter all their live birds and clear the outlets by today.

Bird Flu
The shops in the city and its suburbs had already been issued with a circular on Thursday with a grace period until today to abide by the directive.

The circular was issued by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (FCA) as part of its preventive measures to curb bird flu which is spreading in some Asian and European countries.

According to the circular, a copy of which was obtained by Gulf News, the shops selling live birds must clear their stocks by slaughtering and disposing of them properly.

The instructions also include disposing of all the equipment used in poultry shops, which have to be washed, cleaned and closed.

"Due to health and environment related dangers caused by poultry shops in residential areas, and in view of the precautionary measures taken by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, it has been decided to suspend all the activities of selling chicken and other live birds in residential areas of the city and its suburbs," the circular said.

The authority, according to the circular, has also decided to have a separate central market for poultry, selling domestic live birds for food.

The authority advised these traders to replace and obtain their licences for alternative trade activities until an exclusive central market is established for selling poultry.