Flu fight: Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department staff collect samples for tests in local farms.

Supply of live chickens in retail outlets will resume on July 2, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department says, adding it will make arrangements to help local farms send chickens to the wholesale market on July 1.

Department staff have been collecting samples and conducting tests on chickens in local farms to ensure those sent to wholesale markets are free from avian influenza.

The wholesale market has already been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Local farmers will be allowed to send their chickens to the wholesale market tomorrow night. Trading will resume early Wednesday morning.

The department will continue to inspect local chicken farms to ensure all required bio-security measures are in place. It will also monitor local farms and precautionary measures at the wholesale market.

All market stalls and fresh provision shops selling live poultry should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected to the satisfaction of government veterinary officers before resuming business, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department said.

As at 5pm today, hygiene conditions in 169 market stalls in 44 markets and 53 fresh provision shops have met the required standard for resuming business on July 2.