Poultry import date under study
June 12, 2014
Discussions have started on the resumption of live poultry imports now the construction of quarantine facilities in Ta Kwu Ling has been completed.
This was the message from Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man today, saying the Government is liaising with Mainland authorities on the resumption arrangements.
A resumption date will be announced once it is fixed.
Dr Ko said the new facility will allow the inspection of local poultry when the H7N9 virus has been detected in Mainland poultry and causes the closure of Cheung San Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market. It will reduce the threat of any local H7N9 outbreak.
He said the resumption date depends on a number of factors, including the Mainland’s quarantine arrangements and commercial considerations.
For the long term, the Government will commission a consultancy study on the need for maintaining the supply of live poultry in Hong Kong, he added.
