Friday, May 25, 2012

Posted on May 24, 2012, Thursday
MEASURES have been taken to ensure that all exports of bird’s nests are in compliance with requirements stipulated by importers in China.“Malaysia must go through licensed exporters who are in compliance with the quality and safety standard requirements and whose processing plants have been accredited with Veterinary Health Mark (VHM),” said Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

In his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly here yesterday, Jabu said edible bird nest (EBN) was a very high value export item for the state and the country, with export value of EBN at about RM100 million per annum. “The constraint for not being able to export to China is due to the detection of high nitrate content in our EBN,” he reported.

According to him, the government is now encouraging bird nest farmers to adopt Good Animal Husbandry Practice (GAHP) in their production system to ensure that the EBN are safe for human consumption and to win back the confidence of consumers.





He added that two companies in Sarawak have met VHM requirements and pending approval from the Department of Veterinary Service Putrajaya, they will also be able to export EBN.

Presently, there are only eight companies in Malaysia with processing plants that are accredited with VHM and are eligible to export to China.

Friday, May 18, 2012

By Ng Che Yean. Posted on May 17, 2012, Thursday

BEIJING: Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Noh Omar said the issue on the exports of bird’s nest would be resolved in the near future. He said there was no longer any big issue in the exports of bird’s nest except for technical matters which had yet to be settled.

“The Director-General of Veterinary Services, Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin will continue to discuss technical issues with China until the matter is resolved,” Noh told the Malaysian media here. Noh had visited China and held discussions with the Chinese Minister of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), Zhi Shuping on issues concerning the exports of brid’s nest and fruits to China on Tuesday.

He said the department had given positive cooperation and views on the efforts taken by the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry. –Bernama