China will invest 8.83 billion yuan (US$1.12 billion) to curb animal diseases, according to a program issued by the government.

The government hoped to be able to "comprehensively" control bird flu, foot-and-mouth disease and other key animal diseases by 2015 and even completely eradicate these diseases in certain regions, the program said.

"About 5.66 billion yuan will be allocated by the central government and the remainder will be covered by local governments," said the program, jointly issued by five ministries.

The program said the fight against highly pathogenic bird flu in 2004 had exposed China's weakness in prevention and control of animal diseases. "It (the network) must be improved and strengthened immediately."

The program said the government aimed to upgrade its prevention networks at the central, provincial, county and township levels, improve the country's monitoring, reporting, prevention and quarantine capabilities and set up a new national preventative system by 2008.

As the world's largest producer of poultry, livestock and aquatic products, China has much to lose from animal diseases. It is estimated that animal diseases cost China 40 billion yuan annually on average.

Meanwhile, the common use of animal medicines has resulted in excessive residues in animal products, which threatened public health and affected exports.

The government would set up four national laboratories and 31 provincial monitoring centers to improve the country's capacity of quality inspection and testing of animal medicines.

The program was jointly issued by the State Development and Reform Commission, the ministries of finance, agriculture, forestry, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2007)