Chinese team to audit bird's nest supply chain before exports resume

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is only waiting for China to audit the supply chain before the export of bird's nest to the country can resume.

“This is the last hurdle.

"We can't say when they are coming because it is entirely up to them, but we are hoping it can be done as soon as possible,” Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Hashim Abdullah told a press conference.

He said the team of experts from China would also go through the applications submitted by 20 Malaysian bird's nest companies and audit the entire supply chain.

Mohd Hashim noted that there was optimism that former Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who was appointed by the Cabinet to help expedite negotiations between the two countries, would speed up the arrival of the Chinese experts.

“Once they are here, they will audit everything from the (swiflet) farm, to the traceability (of the bird's nests) along the entire supply chain,” he said.

Mohd Hashim said the Government was doing all it can to promote brid's nest, including taking into account the views of the industry players.