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The daily quantities of imported live chickens from the Mainland will be increased to 12000 on April 25 following a review on the Phase I arrangement for the resumption of Mainland imports on a pilot basis, the government announced today (April 23).
During Phase I (April 20-22) of the pilot arrangement, three consignments of about 6000 chickens were imported from the Mainland each day.
Speaking on the review, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said relevant departments had been closely monitoring the health conditions of the imports and the clinical examination of these chickens showed that they were in very good health conditions.
The laboratory test results for the consignments also showed that all faecal samples were negative for avian influenza H5 virus and the antibody test results of all blood samples were satisfactory, he said.
"We have reviewed the results of the Phase I arrangement and considered that the daily quantities of imported live chickens can be increased to 12000 on April 25 after the wholesale market rest days for a further five-day period until April 29.
"We will further review the daily quantities of live chickens to be imported towards the end of this month having regard to the latest experience," the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, April 23, 2004
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