South China's Guangdong province, where a number of H7N9 virus bird flu cases have been reported since this winter, has selected Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Foshan as pilot cities to allow only frozen poultry to be sold at markets, Guangzhou Daily reported.
This means all poultry will be slaughtered at appointed slaughterhouses before being transported to markets for sale.
The move aims to prevent people from being infected with the bird flu from the live poultry.
The report said that Foshan, where the policy is expected to be implemented beginning in May, has started a feasibility study.