THE delay in issuing export licences for edible bird’s nests (EBN) is a non-issue as it only takes three days to complete, according to Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
“The process of issuing export permits for bird’s nest is quite simple. The applicant needs to be in possession of a valid licence from Sarawak Forestry Corporation to sell bird’s nest.
“As of May 2013, the government has issued a total of 3,526 licences in Sarawak for the purpose of exporting bird’s nest,” Awang Tengah revealed in his winding up speech at the sitting of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.
Touching on the matter which was brought up by Repok assemblyman Dr Wong Hua Seh, the minister added that there was no monopoly in the export of edible bird’s nest (EBN) in Sarawak.
He said the state government was aware of the problem of exporting to China after some nests were found to have imbibed excessive levels of nitrites.
Consequently, the Chinese government had restricted the import of bird’s nest into the country and took precautions against the inflow of EBN products from Malaysia.
In relation to the embargo, the Malaysian government via the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry had proposed that several conditions be imposed on local EBN exporters to export the commodity to China.
These included proper certification from the Department of Veterinary Services and Ministry of Health as well as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
The aforementioned mechanism was still under due consideration until finalisation of auditing by China Certification and Accreditation Association, China Entry Exit Inspection and Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, the minister said.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/28/export-licence-for-birds-nests-takes-only-3-days-to-process/#ixzz2UXi4VL4D
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