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The first live-poultry outlets rest day for this month will be brought forward to Thursday, February 5.

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said: "Following the recent avian influenza outbreaks in neighbouring regions, the department has decided to bring forward the rest day from February 10 to February 5 as one of the precautionary measures against avian influenza."

On the Rest Day, operators of market poultry stalls and fresh provision shops (FPS) must slaughter all live poultry remaining on their premises before noon, and suspend business in the afternoon and evening to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection."

All poultry stall retailers must strictly observe the Rest Day conditions.

"We wish to remind stall owners and licensees that they must not remove any live poultry from their premises to avoid slaughtering of the unsold live poultry before the start of the Rest Day," the spokesman said.

"Our staff will inspect each poultry outlet on the rest day. Failure to comply with the Rest Day conditions will lead to immediate cancellation of an FPS licence or termination of market stall tenancy," he warned.

The public is reminded that live poultry will still be on sale in the morning of February 5, though none will be sold from noon until the morning of February 6.

Ends/Tuesday, February 3, 2004

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