The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has urged chicken farms to strictly comply with the bio-security requirements stipulated in their licences.

In response to media reports that the bird nets of some chicken farms were found to have been poorly maintained, the department said more than 140 local chicken farms had been contacted by phone today, alerting them to the latest spread of avian flu among wild birds and poultry around the world and reminding them of the need to be vigilant

In addition, it will step up inspection of local poultry farms to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza had been implemented. 

Letters will also be sent out to all of the farms next week reminding farmers of their responsibility to ensure full compliance with bird-proofing and other stipulated requirements.

Another full round of territory-wide inspections of poultry farms would be completed within the next two weeks.

The department emphasised proper maintenance of bird nets was among the many precautionary measures required of chicken farms and non-compliance would lead to warnings and eventual cancellation of their licences.

In 2003, seven chicken farm licences were revoked because of failure to comply fully with the bio-security requirements.