The Government today lifted the import suspension of live poultry and birds, day-old chicks, poultry eggs, chilled and frozen meat from a zone spanning the 24-kilometre radius of Xinzao, Panyu, as there has been no new case of avian influenza there. Ducks in the area were found to have the virus on September 17.

The Food & Health Bureau said officers have inspected the poultry farm within the affected area and no abnormality was detected. Since the outbreak the Ministry of Agriculture has sent experts and quarantine officers to cull ducks within the affected area and no new cases have been detected in the province.

Guangdong authorities have enhanced random testing of live poultry, chilled poultry meat and poultry eggs supplied to Hong Kong, and improved inspection of registered poultry farms and processing plants.