25.06.2011

Hundreds of poultry shop owners protested outside the TV Building near the Nile Corniche in Cairo Friday, demanding the Government of Essam Sharaf rescind a 2010 law barring trade and transport of live birds to help prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus.
The protesters, who accused the former regime of damaging the local poultry industry and encouraging the import of frozen chicken to heap wealth, denounced the legislation, which imposes a six-month jail term on violators, in addition to a fine of up to 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,782) or up to the value of the birds, whichever is greater.
They demanded that the  law should be immediately cancelled because it forbade the transport or sale of live birds or poultry, or offering them for sale in provinces and cities.
The protesters said that they had sustained great losses because of this 'notorious' law.