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Acting on complaint, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) mounted an operation against illegal import of chilled meat at the Cha Kwo Ling Cargo Handling Area this morning and found two containers containing about 6,000 live chickens, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said today (September 26).
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has conducted PCR tests for avian influenza on the samples taken from these chickens. All results were negative. AFCD is conducting further tests on the samples and the results would be available tomorrow.
The spokesman explained that the truck driver surrendered the chickens for disposal. All the chickens were destroyed. The AFCD has gathered evidence for consideration of prosecution by the Department of Justice.
The spokesman said that FEHD, AFCD and the Hong Kong Customs would continue to collaborate to combat illegal import of poultry.
Ends/Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 21:59
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