All the 157 chicken farms in Hong Kong have implemented biosecurity measures to reduce the recurrence of outbreak of avian influenza, an official in charge of quarantine said Saturday.
"These biosecurity measures include the prohibition of direct sale from farms to retail outlets, use of washed cages from the wholesale market only, and installation of disinfectant pool or other disinfecting equipment at farm gate," said Lai Ching-wai, assistant director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Inspection and Quarantine).
"License holders of another eight farms who failed to meet these requirements despite repeated warnings have had their license revoked by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department," he said.
As a further move to improve farm hygiene, farmers are taking action to upgrade bird cages from wooden to plastic or metal ones.
Steps are also being taken to set up bird proofing of chicken sheds to prevent wild birds from entering the sheds.
Lai said that as long as there is a demand for freshly slaughtered poultry in Hong Kong, there will always be a risk of outbreaks of avian influenza.
(People's Daily November 18, 2002)
