Gov’t plans to expedite replacement of live poultry supply

Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan said yesterday that the government may expedite the process of replacing its live poultry supply with chilled poultry.

Chan was speaking to the press on the sidelines of a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly.

She added that Macau has been in direct communication with mainland authorities regarding avian flu cases, and is taking steps to ensure that all poultry importation can be safely resumed.

The government said in a statement that it is “maintaining communication with the industry to provide support and gather their views and needs regarding the restructuring of this industry.”

The statement reaffirmed the importance of expediting the replacement of the current supply of live poultry, as well as the centralization of the poultry slaughter processes.

Chan also revealed that the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) has arranged for industry officials to visit refrigerated product companies in China, where they can observe the process of food preservation and ensure the hygiene of any refrigerated products supplied to the territory.

Chan also said that according to government forecasts, the wholesale market for refrigerated products could be transferred to the cross-border industrial zone in the second half of 2017.

She added that the government is carrying out preparatory works for the relocation of the facilities and that sector professionals have already carried out site visits.