The Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2008 has been gazetted banning live poultry from retail outlets overnight to protect public health and reduce the avian flu risk. It will be tabled in the Legislative Council and come into effect on July 2.

The revised law said public market stalls and fresh provision shops selling live poultry permitted by the Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene must cull any live poultry remaining in their stalls or shops by 8pm every day. Live poultry will be banned at such premises from 8pm to 5am the next day.

Offenders can have their permission revoked and be fined $50,000 and jailed six months. Click here for details.

Retailers are also required to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect their premises every night and strictly adhere to existing measures, including wearing protective gear. Failure will result in licence or tenancy cancellation.

The Food & Health Bureau said it is imperative to stop any possible spread of avian flu in Hong Kong in future, and the most effective way is to minimise the health risk by reducing as far as possible the contact between people and live poultry.

By banning live poultry stocking at retail outlets overnight, the chickens will be culled to avoid virus accumulation in the retail outlet environment, better protecting public health.