Government says next poultry rest day planned for Thursday
Updated at 6.13pm: The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) reminded poultry stall operators and the public that the next Rest Day would be Thursday, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
'Operators of market stalls and fresh provision shops selling live poultry must suspend business on the Rest Day to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection,' the spokesman said.
He urged live poultry retailers to strictly observe Rest Day conditions and ensure live poultry in stalls or shops were slaughtered before the Rest Day.
'We wish to remind stall owners and licensees that they must not remove any live poultry from their premises to avoid slaughtering of the unsold poultry before the start of the rest day,' he said.
'FEHD staff will inspect each poultry outlet on the Rest Day. Failure to comply with the Rest Day conditions will lead to immediate cancellation of shop licences or termination of market stall tenancies,' the spokesman warned.
The department has implemented Rest Days to reduce the risk of avian flu. Rest Days give poultry stall operators time to replace stock and carry out cleaning and disinfecting.
