We think China want RFID for Traceability

I was told that China want the RFID registered Swiftlet premises and health certificate from Ministry Of Health beside the Veterinary certification.

My friend from DVS agreed with me. Below is his view after reading Sarawak Bird’s Nest Import and Export Association president Mr Liu Thian Leong statement on RFID tagging & registration.

Dear all,

Sarawak birdnest business especially trading and processing plants has a long history and quite traditional system and sometimes secretive. In the past many processing centres have their products exported to HK, China and Singapore for so many years without much problems. There were little requirements and restriction for years they have been doing trading , import and export with the help of Sarawak government. Some even bought ebn from Indonesia (black nest) which is much cheaper and export them to Singapore and Hong Kong without problem. When this RFID things comes out , the putting it into the boxes, sealed and all ebn have to have it individually packed sealed and undergo temperature of 70 c for 3 secs . I understand the uproar. What DVS should do at the moment is to focus on the basic requirement - registration of swiftlet premises. That is all.

Further dialog with the swiflet operators and traders and exporter to mitigate the system on a win-win situation for both sides. We have to listen and try to improve on the rfid system. At the moment we should consider their opinion that individually packed ebn is not necessary as it is still considered raw not ready to eat or drink. eg Mushroom are packed according to the consumer and importer requirement according to weight eg.30 grams , 100 grams 250 grams etc. Exporter usually export the ebn wholesale bulk pack which will later be repacked by the importer into their smaller packing and their company logo. We have to undertand their trade. Quote : The Art Of War...." know the terrain, know the weather, know your " enemy" { people /swiflet operators} and know the trade "- then we can win the war.

Recently some members in Kuching listen to Sarawak traders president and want to remove the installed chips from the premises especially Haiyen Bird nest and sea products, who also have processing plant in Kuching and premises in Betong Pusa.

I have to do a lot of damage control, as i feel we are losing the propaganda war period. It was like approaching each individual and explaining what we are installing on the premise are different from what the newspaper said about RFID. We are only registering the ranches which will be given an ID number in the form of cips after which the premise may qualify for SALT [GAHP] certification and for disease control, high quality, safe and hygienic product and eventually for HACCP requirement for processing plants.

And they all believed was what the newspaper wrote which said is not necessary to install the rifd cips. Sorry to say that we were slow in responding and countering to the China press by the association. The swiftlet operators believed the newspaper 100%. DVS HQ both in Sarawak and Putrajaya may have to work closely to the Chinese press and spread the news the basic requirement of installing the cips and differentiate the concept of rfid [which means to swiftlet operators /players have to harvest into the box as per house and sealed it to the processing plant which they are very much against.]

The sprocess involve of RFID system in boxes for export to China should be separated literally and physically from the ongoing premise registration with rifd cips. Only the processing plant exporter follow the rfid track and trace if they want to export to China.

We have to make them feel that the registration of the swiflet ranch premises is a separate process under disease control - animal ordinance esp bird flu.

OF COURSE WE ONLY KNOW THAT WHEN TIME IS RIPE LATER ON, THE SWIFLET PREMISES CAN BE LINKED TO THE TRACK AND TRACE ANYTIME. IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE RFID TRACK AND TRACE PROCEDURE IN BOXES

This opinion and suggestion is based on the feed back from the field in peninsular and East Malaysia especially Sarawak and my dialogue and discussion with ebn traders and swiflets operators.

Nevertheless in spite of all these storms and gloomy weather, we still have a sparkle of sunshine....After listening to my explanation and thinking wisely, we still have a few good supporters who are willing to follow the Track and Trace System all the way to China.

All the below have processing plant already registered with RFID and at least up to GVHP standard or HACCP (the food safety system)

1. D1A001 Kuching Wing Shen Food Industries HACCP compliance
2. D1A002 Kuching Swallow House. HACCP compliance
3. D1A006 Kuching Orient Union Birdnest SB
4. D1A011
5. D8A001 Mukah Blue Sky SB
6. D9A002 Bintulu Yanwo
7. D9A001 Bintulu Oriental Birdnest SB
8. D6A001 Sibu MJT SB

Thank you for your attention and for listening and for your continue support.

LIM EAM LAI Phd, MD[AM] India, BHMS, DHMS

Here, I also attach a report from Borneo Post recently.

KUCHING: Bird’s nest farmers and traders are very much against the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and have dismantled the devices in some farms. Data from the RFID can show importers and relevant authorities where the nests were harvested or processed. Sarawak Bird’s Nest Import and Export Association president Liu Thian Leong said they were very firm in refusing to allow RFID to be installed in their farms and even factories as they found it to be an unnecessary measure. “There are already such cases occurring in Sarikei and Saratok where the farmers took apart the RFID which the Agriculture Department had installed in their swiftlet farmhouses,” he added. He said although the government only required RFID to be installed at processing centres or factories following protests from the farmers and traders the requirement was still found to be unnecessary.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/22/rfid-unnecessary-say-birds-nest-farmers-and-traders/#ixzz24KrWaRBO

How To Start Edible Nest Swiftlet Ranching With Minimal Capital

In view of the recent drop of birdnest price, I would like to invite bloggers to contribute idea on how to reduce cost fordeveloping swiftlet house. I have seen a RM10,000 structure of 10 x 15 ft with more than 200 birds roosted in it at Sipitang, Sabah.

I am not saying that this is the best way but if you don't have enough capital, you can always start small and later you can expand rather than to invest more than hundred of thousand ended you nervous with the return.

1. First, test the selected site to determine the present of swiftlet colony.

How To Export Edible Birdnest To China

Want to export bird's nest to China? There are very important steps and your premises must implement good HACCP & product traceability. Recently 15 processing plants in Malaysia were audited by CNCA but only 8 accepted. 

I will provide you with some tips on how to start & export EBN to China.

1. First, try to understand and study the export protocol document available from Ministry of Agriculture Malaysia (MOA) or Department of Veterinary Service (DVS) and Ministry of Health (MOH)

2. Register your processing premises with DVS & MOH for GMP/ VHM certification for ID number. Register via http://ebndvs.efoodpremise.gov.my/

3. Apply for CNCA auditing. CNCA application form can be download from the internet.

4. One approved by CNCA then apply for export permit from Veterinary Department (RM10 per consignment). You need to attach supporting document. For Sarawak, get the permit from Forestry Department & pay the export permit RM50 per kg. 

To ensure your product able to enter China, try to get China import permit. Frankly speaking, I am not sure how to get this but if your plants is approved by CNCA I think you should be able to obtain the import document.

Veterinary health certificate is issued once your plant listed in CNCA and DVS list. For each consignment RM10 per veterinary health certificate ( Sarawak) and health certificate from MOH.

4. There is borang kastam to be fill which I think is for custom declaration purpose.  
5. Finally get the health Cert from MOH.
6. Get your processing premises certified & licence. 

Please refer www.ebnprocessing.blogspot.com on how to establish a world standard EBN processing plant.

Now you can export your valuable product to China, and I can tell you it is worth the trouble. The market potential in China is so huge. Go to China and study the market over there. You will never regret it believe me.

Premium Edible Birdnest (EBN)

Pictures below are the premium grade edible birdnest (EBN) produce from Sarawak, Borneo Island.

Processing Edible Nest

There are more than 20 EBN processing premises in Sarawak. These premises were regularly monitored by the State Veterinary Authority, Health Department and several by JAKIM to ensure product quality and hygienically produce Raw clean EBN

Indonesia to stop export of bird’s nest via Malaysia

Posted on May 7, 2012, Monday

EXPORT PROTOCOL: Photo of dried bird’s nests at a shop off Port Klang. Indonesia can now directly export bird’s nest to China without having to go through a third party, following the signing of an export protocol between both countries.

JAKARTA: Indonesia can now directly export bird’s nest to China without having to go through a third party, namely Malaysia, following the signing of an export protocol between both countries. “We can now export directly to China. A standard has been achieved between China and Indonesia and it now being discussed technically,” said Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister, Suswono.

He said on the Ministry’s website here yesterday that with the standard, there will be integrity between both parties and it will benefit Indonesia from the aspect of the sales price. “As you know, prior to this deal, there was no special arrangement on the export of the bird’s nest.

“As such, there were some parties who took advantage of the loophole, to improperly export and without any quality assurance,” Suswono added. He said all this while, the bird’s nest was being sold via Malaysia at a very low price and to the point of causing an economic loss.

The bird’s nest sold to Malaysia cost only five million rupiah a kilogramme, while the price in China was as high as 37 million rupiah a kilogramme. Indonesia has at present the potential to produce 400,000 tonnes of bird’s nest annually from its various districts like Lumajang and Gresik. — Bernama

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/07/indonesia-to-stop-export-of-birds-nest-via-malaysia/#ixzz239ZRS6BJ

GVHP Certification

Good Veterinary Hygiene Practice (GVHP) for EBN processing plant is once of the requirement for veterinary health certificate issuance by the Veterinary Authority in Malaysia.

Swiftlets Of Borneo

Borneo Island is very famous of producing the highest quality of edible birdnest in the world. A raw unclean birdnest can fetch up to RM8,000.00 per kg.

Naturally producing caves are Baram Cave, Niah, Silabur in Sarawak and Gomantung, Madai cave in Sabah. More than 20 tonnes produce annually.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USE OF RFID ON BIRDNEST PRODUCTS IS SET BY CHINA, NOT MALAYSIA - CHUA

The requirement to use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to export swiftlet nests from the country of origin was not set by the Malaysian government, but imposed by China.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said since China was the importing country, all parties must respect the decision to use RFID.

Datuk Chua was responding to swiftlet nest operators reluctant to abide by the requirement.

He stressed that although the RFID issue could be discussed with China, Malaysia must respect China's final decision.

The use of RFID would enable China to trace back the swiftlet nests origin including the supplier.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Toing Lai said, the RFID issue will be discussed by the Cabinet tomorrow, and a decision will be made on whether to abide with the new requirements.

Chua: RFID requirement unfair to swiftlet farm operators

IPOH: Making the installation of radio frequency identification (RFID) a requirement for the export of bird's nests to China is unfair to swiftlet farmhouse operators, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

"It is not always the operators' fault if there are problems with bird's nests," he told reporters after visiting SJK(C) Gunung Rapat here Sunday.

"They should also realise that something might go wrong during packaging and processing," he said.

He said the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry seemed to have taken "an easy way out" when it imposed such a requirement.

The use of RFID as a requirement was introduced to detect swiftlets that produce bird's nest with a nitrite level exceeding 30ppm (parts per million).

Chinese authorities halted bird's nest imports from Malaysia in July last year, after testing samples containing nitrite levels that did not meet its health standards.

Dr Chua said he had raised an objection to the use of RFID at the National Economy Council two weeks ago.

He said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar has agreed to work out an agreement with China to end the ban.