Press Releases
Imports of Guangdong chilled and frozen ducks and geese, duck and goose eggs resume
The Government would resume imports of chilled and frozen ducks and geese, as
well as duck and goose eggs from areas outside the zone of 24-kilometre radius
of the infected area in Guangdong Province, after assessing the latest
situation, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (September 24).
The Government announced last Monday (September 17) that all imports of chilled
and frozen ducks and geese, as well as duck and goose eggs from Guangdong
Province would be suspended for one week upon confirmation of an avian influenza
case among ducks in Xinzao town, Panyu, Guangzhou.
The Government also suspended for 21 days all imports of live poultry and birds,
day-old chicks, poultry eggs, chilled and frozen poultry meat from all farms and
processing plants within a 24-kilometre radius of the infected area.
The spokesman said: "The Ministry of Agriculture has provided us with the
details and results of the investigation on the avian influenza case. We learned
that the death of ducklings from avian influenza was mainly due to insufficient
time for them to develop immunity after receiving vaccination. There is no
question of a virus mutation or sub-standard vaccines.
"The Guangdong authorities have adopted appropriate control and preventive
measures and so far no abnormal death of ducks have occurred. There is no new
case of avian influenza infection in farms in Guangdong Province, either.
"The Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau has enhanced
inspection and quarantine of live poultry, chilled poultry meat and poultry eggs
for supply to Hong Kong. They confirm that so far everything is normal and no
problem has been detected."
The spokesman said the decision to partially lift the import suspension was
based on the above-mentioned factors.
"We will continue to liaise with the Mainland authorities to pay close attention
to the control of avian influenza on the Mainland. The Food and Environmental
Hygiene Department (FEHD) has sent staff to inspect some of the registered farms
in Guangdong Province which supply live chickens to Hong Kong," he added.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and
FEHD will continue to step up inspection and surveillance of the hygiene
conditions in all local live poultry farms, as well as wholesale and retail
markets. FEHD has also strengthened the testing of live poultry imported from
the Mainland.
AFCD, FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department, the Police and the relevant
Mainland authorities would remain vigilant and strive to deter illegal import of
poultry and birds to Hong Kong to prevent an increase in the risk of avian
influenza outbreak brought by poultry and birds that had not gone through
inspection and quarantine.
Ends/Monday, September 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:53
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