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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government decided (October 9) to lift the import suspension of live poultry and birds, day-old chicks, poultry eggs, chilled and frozen meat from the zone of 24-kilometre radius of Xinzao town, Panyu as there was no new case of avian influenza after the confirmation of high pathogenic avian influenza among ducks in the area on September 17.
Starting from tomorrow (October 10), Hong Kong would fully resume import of live poultry and birds as well as their products from Guangdong Province.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (October 9) that the decision was made after prudent assessment of the latest situation. Earlier, staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had inspected the registered poultry farm within the affected area and no abnormality was detected.
The spokesman said: "Since the report of avian influenza outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture has organised experts and quarantine officers to cull the ducks within the infected area. Effective control and preventive measures have been adopted since then and no new case of avian influenza has been detected in the province. The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the infection has been stamped out and the local government in Panyu ended the quarantine of the affected area.
"At the same time, the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau has stepped up random testing of live poultry, chilled poultry meat and poultry eggs for supply to Hong Kong as well as enhanced inspection of registered poultry farms and processing plants for supply to Hong Kong. No abnormality has been found."
In the light of the confirmation of high pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza among ducks in Xinzao town, Panyu in mid September, the Government has adopted preventive measures by suspending all imports of live poultry and birds, day-old chicks, poultry eggs, chilled and frozen meat from all farms and processing plants within 24-kilometre radius of Xinzao town for 21 days, and suspending all imports of chilled and frozen ducks and geese, as well as duck and goose eggs from Guangdong Province for one week.
Ends/Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:46
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