China clips wings of Malaysian bird’s nest industry

Wednesday February 29, 2012

Other News & Views Compiled by Winnie Yeoh

THE Malaysian bird's nest industry is facing another hurdle as China has banned its citizens from bringing the item back after visiting Malaysia, China Press reported. Federation of Malaysia Bird's Nest Merchants Association deputy president Datuk Tok Teng Sai said this posed a great challenge to the bird's nest industry as China had already stopped its import from Malaysia due to high levels of nitrate found in them.

(Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Chai Xi was reported last month as saying that the import of bird's nest to China was expected to resume next month following efforts by both Malaysian and Chinese governments to resolve the matter).

Tok said many bird's nest farmers had invested their life savings in the industry. He said China should practise reciprocity as the Malaysian Government did not place any restriction on its people from bringing in food products from the republic.