The poultry trade suggested yesterday the use of laser labels to mark chickens that have been given a clean bill of health so as to set them aside from unhealthy or smuggled ones, according to an official source.

Hong Kong Poultry Wholesalers Association chairman Tsui Ming-tuen estimated that the cost of such a label is only HK$1, and said the proposal had been submitted to the Food and Health Bureau.

Mr Tsui suggested that in order to prevent fraud, the labels should be issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in the city as well as the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on the mainland.