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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (October 22) that it would step up inspection of local poultry farms to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza had been implemented.
In response to media enquiries that the bird nets of some chicken farms were found to have been poorly maintained, a department spokesman said more than 140 local chicken farms had been immediately reminded to strictly comply with the bio-security requirements stipulated in their licences.
"We have already contacted all chicken farm operators by phone today, alerting them to the latest spread of avian flu among wild birds and poultry around the world and reminding them of the need to be vigilant," he said.
Letters will also be sent out to all of the farms next week reminding farmers of their responsibility to ensure full compliance with bird-proofing and other stipulated requirements.
The spokesman said another full round of territory-wide inspections of poultry farms would be completed within the next two weeks.
He emphasized that proper maintenance of bird nests was among the many precautionary measures required of chicken farms and non-compliance would lead to warnings and eventual cancellation of their licences.
In 2003, seven chicken farm licences were revoked because of failure to comply fully with the bio-security requirements.
He added that some of the farms may be preparing to cease operation, pending completion of procedures to voluntarily return their licences. However, insofar as live chicken are still being kept in these farms, full compliance of the bio-security stipulations is required.
Ends/Saturday, October 22, 2005
Issued at HKT 13:30
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