ENG-2003 — Page 236

FOOD SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

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development of farming and the provision of scholarships for farmers' children. In 2003, the organisation handled 251 000 tonnes of vegetables valued at $779 million. The Fish Marketing Organisation is a statutory body established under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance. It provides orderly marketing services at its seven wholesale markets. Revenue comes from charging commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus earnings are channelled back into the industry through the provision of low-interest loans to fishermen, improved services and facilities in the markets and scholarships for fishermen and their children. During the year, 41 850 tonnes of marine fish valued at $740 million were sold through the organisation.

Veterinary Services and Animal Management

The AFCD closely monitors animal health in Hong Kong. In 2003, staff of the department made over 10 700 visits to livestock and poultry farms to monitor conditions, test for the presence of diseases, and check on the use of veterinary drugs. To enhance its preventive capacity, the department not only advises farmers on proper husbandry practices but also provides them with vaccines so that newly imported breeding pigs can be inoculated against major animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease and swine fever.

The new RRT-PCR ('real-time reverse transcribed-polymerase chain reaction') technology for avian influenza evaluated in 2002 was shown to be useful in early detection and monitoring for H5N1 avian influenza virus infection during and after outbreaks in December 2002 to January 2003. Introduction of new, rapid, molecular diagnostic testing procedures for H5 avian influenza viruses has been extended to diagnosis of other avian, swine and fish diseases of significance to Hong Kong,

The second and third phase implementation of Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation in 2003 required the introduction of screen testing for an increased range of chemical residues in animal urine/serum samples. The scope of analytical services for the testing of veterinary drug residues in food animals products and live food animals for surveillance and statutory purposes has been further extended by the Government Laboratory and the AFCD's Veterinary Laboratory to facilitate the second phase enforcement of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation and the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations. Although Hong Kong has achieved a rabies-free status with the aid of vaccination, the AFCD has strict measures in place to prevent a recurrence of the disease. Dog keepers are required to have their dogs licensed, implanted with microchips for identification and vaccinated against rabies by the time their dogs reach five months of age. In 2003, some 45 000 dogs were vaccinated against rabies. As part of the rabies prevention strategy, continual action is taken to reduce the risk of a rabies reservoir developing in the stray animal population. Over 13 500 stray dogs were caught in the year. The department also deploys manpower to catch other stray animals that may cause a nuisance in local communities.

The AFCD is the licensing authority for all pet shops in Hong Kong. No one is allowed to trade in pets unless they are licensed under certain conditions. In 2003, there were over 275 licensed pet shops selling a wide range of animals including dogs, cats, birds, turtles and some exotic animals. The department inspects the shops regularly to ensure that their operations are in line with the licensing conditions, monitor the animal health conditions and prevent cruelty to the animals.