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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 31) reminded all operators of live poultry retail outlets to strictly adhere to the revised licensing/tenancy conditions as stringent enforcement action will be taken from Monday (February 2) against any irregularities detected.
In the wake of the recent avian flu cases in the Southeast Asia countries, the FEHD will deliver letters to all market stall operators and fresh provision shop licencees selling live poultry within today urging them to strictly adhere to the revised conditions to safeguard public health as well as to protect their own health.
The revised conditions required all operators and workers in live poultry retail outlets to wear aprons and rubber boots while at work. Rubber gloves should also be worn when handling and bleeding live poultry and the gloves must be intact and undamaged.
An FEHD spokesman said:"We will inspect all live poultry stalls in our markets every two hours to check compilation of the hygiene conditions and to watch out for any clinical signs of H5 infection in the live poultry. Fresh provision shops will also be inspected with increased frequency and warnings will be given for detection of any breach of the hygiene conditions.
"One verbal warning, with a written letter to record the breach, will be issued against any breach of the hygiene conditions. If the irregularity is not rectified on a repeated check, a notification of intention to terminate the tenancy agreement or cancel the licence will be issued immediately without any further warning," the spokesman elaborated.
Officers from FEHD have relayed the department's latest enforcement plan to poultry trade representatives during a meeting held at FEHD headquarters this afternoon.
On the other hand, FEHD have put on display posters and stickers in poultry stalls, advising workers and the public on measures to prevent avian flu. Booklets outlining specific conditions and hygiene guidelines on prevention of avian flu have also been distributed to poultry stall operators.
Ends/Saturday, January 31, 2004
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