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The Government has reviewed the arrangements for the additional 10,000 chicken imports this (June 18) morning and found the operation generally smooth.
Taking into account the smooth operation and the surge in public demand for live chickens during the festive period of Tuen Ng, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, announced today that the additional supply of 10,000 chickens would be extended from three days to five days - for the period June 18 to 22.
To ensure public safety would not be compromised, Dr Yeoh said the departments had increased manpower to cope with the enhanced inspection and quarantine arrangements as well as the laboratory capacity to cater for the additional samples taken for testing.
Poultry retailers had agreed to co-operate to ensure compliance with all hygienic conditions, he added.
Poultry retailers envisaged good turnover in chicken sale and expected there would not be unduly accumulated stock of live chickens in the wet market in the few days leading up to the Tuen Ng Festival.
"We have found the dialogue earlier with the relevant stakeholders useful and constructive in mapping out a balanced arrangement to suit both consumers and retailers without letting down the guard on public safety," he said.
Senior officials from the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had held meetings with representatives from the poultry and related trades earlier to discuss the issue of additional chickens during the festive period.
Dr Yeoh said that the poultry trade's request was being considered favourably because the regular market rest days for the wholesale and retail markets had been scheduled between June 23 and 25, which would help reduce the virus load in the markets to minimise health risk.
The exceptional arrangement will end after June 22 and revert to the current level of 30,000 live chickens per day.
Ends/Friday, June 18, 2004
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