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The daily quantity of live chicken imports from the Mainland would be temporarily increased to meet the surge in public demand for live chickens with the approach of the Lunar New Year, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said after the assessing the situation.

"The bureau has reached consensus with the Mainland authorities to increase the quantity of live chicken imports from the Mainland between January 27 and February 7," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said that the arrangements to increase the quantity of live chicken imports would be carried out in three stages. In stage one (from January 27 to 29), the daily imports of live chickens from the Mainland would be increased from 30,000 to 40,000. The daily imports of live chickens would be further increased to 50,000 in stage two (January 30 to February 4). Stage three is the three days prior to the eve of Lunar New Year (February 5 to 7), with daily imports of live chickens being increased to 70,000.

The daily imports of live chickens from the Mainland would resume to 30,000 from February 8 onwards.

As in previous practice, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has already urged local chicken farmers and wholesalers to consider the risks of public health and avian influenza outbreak and to avoid over-supply live chickens to the retail markets. They should also maintain the local chicken supply at roughly the same level as the import quantity during the Lunar New Year festive period.

The spokesman reiterated that the capacity of the retail outlets in handling the live chickens has been reduced notably.

However, in view of an increase in public demand for live chickens and a quick turnover in live chicken sales during this festive period, the Government would temporarily increase the daily quantity of live chicken imports from the Mainland and closely monitor the supply to avoid an overstocking of live chickens in the retail outlets.

The temporary increase in live chicken imports would be regularly reviewed and suitable adjustments to the import quantity might be made in the light of the market situation.

"Past experience shows that the winter season is a high risk peak season for avian influenza outbreaks. Avian influenza virus would only replicate in live birds but not in their carcasses. In the light of the regional development, for personal protection against avian influenza, members of the public are advised to pay more attention to personal hygiene.

"They should cleanse their hands thoroughly after touching live birds or handling poultry meat. As heat will extinguish avian influenza virus, poultry meat should be thoroughly cooked before consumption," the spokesman added.

Ends/Tuesday, January 18, 2005

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