Hong Kong's Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said Friday it is working jointly with the Chinese mainland authorities to impose stringent controls on registered poultry farms supplying chickens to Hong Kong to ensure the safety and quality.

The mainland has cut the number of registered farms from over 300 to over 100 to more effectively deploy resources to ensure farms are avian flu free. Enforcement has been stepped up and biosecurity measures are maintained to meet required standards, the bureau said.

The arrangements for the resumption of live poultry imports from the mainland on March 26 have been considered satisfactory, the bureau said, adding that the wholesale price of chickens since the resumption has remained stable.

The bureau is maintaining close contact with mainland authorities to review the effectiveness of its work. All parties responsible for gatekeeping work remain vigilant to ensure existing mechanisms to prevent avian flu are in place.

As Hong Kong is still in the peak influenza season and human infection cases of H5N1 have been found on the mainland, the bureau said it will continue to take following measures: live poultry must come from registered farms subject to inspection by both mainland and Hong Kong officials; all live poultry must be quarantined for five days before export to Hong Kong; samples for laboratory tests will be taken from live poultry imported to Hong Kong at Man Kam To Control Point and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department staff will visit registered poultry farms on the mainland; and samples will also be taken for testing at wholesale and retail markets.

Source: Xinhua