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The operation was smooth when live chicken imports from Mainland was temporarily increased to meet the surging demand preceding the Lunar New Year and no overstocking was found in retail outlets, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (January 28).
After assessing the latest situation regarding avian influenza outbreaks on the Mainland and the public demand for live chickens with the approach of the Lunar New Year, the Government had relaxed the ceiling on live chicken imports from the Mainland from January 24 to 28. On January 24 and 25, the ceiling was relaxed from 30,000 chickens to 50,000 chickens per day while from January 26 to 28, the ceiling was further relaxed to 70,000 chickens per day.
"During the period where there is an increase in supply of Mainland live chickens, the Government has closely monitored the retail outlets. Generally speaking, the turnover of chickens is good and no overstocking of poultry has been found.
"The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will implement an additional rest day on January 31. Operators of market stalls and fresh provision shops selling live poultry must suspend business on the Rest Day to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection," the spokesman said.
Ends/Saturday, January 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:21
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