Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries 199
During the year, the Government suspended temporarily the importation of chilled or frozen poultry meat and poultry products from a number of overseas places with avian influenza outbreaks.
More than 19 000 birds at the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market were culled in December 2011 after a chicken carcass was found there to have the H5N1 virus. The Government suspended the delivery of all live poultry to the market for 21 days as a result.
The Government also imposed in end-December 2011 a 21-day suspension of imports of live poultry and poultry products (including chilled and frozen poultry, and poultry eggs) from an import control zone in Shenzhen after a man there was found to be infected by the H5N1.
Monitoring of Influenza Virus in Pigs
The Government monitors the occurrence of influenza in pigs. The AFCD monitors closely the health of pigs in Hong Kong and reminds local pig farmers regularly to maintain good farm and personal hygiene. The FEHD also examines imported live pigs and constantly reminds slaughterhouse staff and others who have physical contact with live pigs in the slaughterhouses to wear masks and other protective gear. CFS literature on food safety includes advice on the handling and cooking of food, particularly pork.
Public Markets and Cooked Food Markets
The FEHD operates 102 public markets, including 25 free-standing cooked food markets, providing some 14 400 stalls that sell fresh and cooked food as well as household items. As at the end of 2011, the occupancy rate at these markets was 87.6 per cent.
The FEHD received some 1 600 applications from market stall operators wishing to join its one-off Tenancy Transfer Scheme, designed to regularise the status of public market stall operators. A total of 1 487 applications were approved.
Hawkers
The FEHD regulates hawking in Hong Kong. At the end of 2011, there were 6 480 hawkers carrying out business in licensed fixed pitch stalls and 505 itinerant hawkers.
Slaughterhouses
The FEHD oversees the hygiene standards of licensed slaughterhouses in Sheung Shui, Tsuen Wan and Cheung Chau.
During the year, 39 067 animal health certificates and 9 217 entry permits for local pigs were verified at the slaughterhouses, and 52 253 samples of urine and tissue were taken from animals for the monitoring of veterinary drug residues at the three slaughterhouses. A total of 1 556 571 pigs, 28 591 cattle and 13 011 goats