Some 11,000 live chickens were imported to the SAR today after a ban on imports for four weeks.

79 samples taken among the live chickens to be imported today were tested safe for consumption.

The importing procedures were smooth, said Sales Marques, President of the Provisional Municipal Council, adding that prices are expected to be stable since more chickens were imported today.

Some 8,000 chickens were imported to the SAR daily before the ban.

Concerning the resumption of waterbird imports, Sales Marques said that more preparations are necessary to ensure the hygiene standard and the possibility to resume imports this week is little.

Meanwhile, the SAR Government is to set up an ad hoc committee to prevent the out- break of avian flu in the SAR.

The Committee is headed by Florinda Chan, Secretary for Administration and Justice, and comprises representative from the Provisional Municipal Council of Macau, Provisional Municipal Council of the Islands, the Health Bureau and the Government Information Bureau.

A technical group composed of technical personnel from the above departments will be working under the supervision of the committee.