Thursday, July 25, 2013

How To Build Bird's Nest Processing Plant To Meet CNCA Requirement and export to China

Here are the tips on how set up bird's nest processing plant in Sarawak and application for CNCA China listing for export. Before you start, it is good if you have a good knowledge on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). My are the step by step procedure and tips for you to consider as follows:-


1. LOCATION
Locality is very important. Site should be suitable for food processing and requirement from MOH and local council. In Sarawak, agriculture land normally would not get approval from council.  Try to optain site approval from council eg Lesen pelbagai. Premises situated at commercial lot/Industrial lot normally easier to get approval and licence from local council.

2. BUSINESS REGISTRATION
Register the business/ trading licence with Inland Revenue and birdnest collecting licence from Forestry Department. You need this document to be attach for your processing licence from Veterinary Division, Department of Agriculture. 

3. GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE 
Construct the factory according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). This document can be purchase from SIRIM online.
4. BIRDNEST PROCESSING LICENCE
Apply processing plant licence (Sarawak) from Veterinary Division, Department of Agriculture. Your plant must be endorse by Natural Resource and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak for your waste management system. Usually the SVA will forward a copy of your application to NREB for endorsement.

5. ID REGISTRATION
Register with Department Of Veterinary Service to get the ID & registration number it application can be done online at www.dvs.gov.my

6. HACCP CERTIFICATION
Apply for food safety certification from any certification body such as Moody International, SGS, SIRIM, DVS or MOH.

7. ESTABLISTMENT NUMBER 
Finally get your plant accredited under Veterinary Health Mark (VHM) and also MOH. Download the form from google search www.gov.my on Veterinary Health Mark application form. Establishment number is very important. Without this number you can't export your product.

8. CNCA AUDITING AND LISTING
Once your plant is ready, you must apply for CNCA registration which you can also download from internet. The completed application form must be forwarded to DVS Putrajaya for endorsement. CNCA will send their auditor from China to Malaysia to audit your plant. You must be prepare and ready for this important audit because it is very strict and difficult to het approval especially if your plant is ready. Make sure your quality assurance staff is very fluent in mandarin and very vast knowlegde on EBN processing and HACCP system especially on traceability and reduction of nitrite.

Contact DVS Putrajaya, Seksyen Aneka Haiwan or any Veterinary Office for assistance.

Good luck

Monday, July 15, 2013

HOME >> 7 EDITION >> BUSINESS 11 MALAYSIAN COMPANIES TO RESUME BIRD'S NEST EXPORT TO CHINA

Malaysia has been given the green light by China to resume the export of bird's nest to the country, after a two year hiatus.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who announced this today, attributed the achievement to the hard work, put up by former MCA president, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting.

The Prime Minister made the announcement in parliament today, after meeting a delegation from Guangxi, led by its Governor Cheng Wu.

Datuk Seri Najib added that the Chinese government, has created a special hub, to process and run lab tests on the bird's nests that are imported from Malaysia.

China banned the imports of bird's nest from Malaysia in July 2011 following the discovery of high level of nitrite in supposedly "clean" Malaysian birds nests. 

The ban has hit the country's swiftlet industry hard, as China was reported to be the biggest importer of Malaysia's bird's nest products, with a trading value of about 1 billion ringgit annually.

- See more at: http://www.ntv7.com.my/7edition/business-en/BANNED_SUBSTANCES_GAY_POWELL_SIMPSON_TEST_POSITIVE_FOR_DRUGS.html#sthash.fbtqC5ri.dpuf

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Export of Bird's Nest from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia.

Recently, I received a call from KL inquiry about the protocol of EBN export from Sarawak to KL. Here are my explanation;

Sarawak procedure is quite difference  compare to West Malaysia with regard of import/export of bird's nest. It is clearly stipulated in the Wild life protection ordinance 1998 ( Edible bird's nest) which is under the purview of Sarawak Forestry Department & Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 under the Veterinary Division, Department of Agriculture, Sarawak.

1. First get the veterinary import permit from DVS, Putrajaya or any Veterinary Office in Peninsular. In the application, state the amount that you intended to bring. You can apply online http://epermit.dagangnet.com

2. Bring this veterinary import permit to Sarawak Forestry Department situated at Wisma Sumber Alam. Petra Jaya. You can download the import/export application form from www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my. Charges are RM50 per kg.

3. Finally, attached the import/export licence/document, in the online epermit application. Log on for online application via http://epermit.dagangnet.com
or go to State Veterinary HQ at Semongok Road, Kuching for veterinary export/import permit. Fees RM10 only. For for information call 082-628248 General line during office hours. Fax: 082-628122. Normally you may need to fill the custom declaration form & sign by the Veterinary Officer.

Once you familiar to this system, it is quite easy. Most of our regular exporters hired an agent to do all the documentation. 

Good luck




Wednesday, July 10, 2013

World class Edible Bird's Nest Processing Plant

A world class processing plant to meet CNCA requirement will be built in Miri  Sarawak and subsequently for export of high quality bird's nest to China.

The production of more than 6 tonnes annually from natural caves in Borneo and the company owned 30 units of swiftlet houses nation wide with annual production of 100 kgs justified this establishment. 

The establishment must comply with standard set by DVS and MOH, registered all the premises for traceability and get all the certification done such as GMP, HACCP and VHM.

Lastly, an integrated marketing plan/strategies should be drown to avoid over dependance on China market. I have seen company manage export to Japan, USA and middle east. 

Another strategies would be mass bird's nest drink production for local market. I have tried Kopi Sarang Burung, etc. Go for big retailer such as Giant etc and franchises these concept for local consumption. 

Processors and ranchers need to consolidate effort to meet the stringent requirement for export, public confident and self regulated industries for long term business survival and benefit. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Swiftlet farming drives demand for properties- NSTP

Vertical farming as a concept is certainly not limited to plants or vegetables. According to Yasmin and Qhawarizmi of MDRXA, vertical farming is defined as cultivation of plant or animal life within the confines of high-rise buildings. Therefore, swiftlet farming can be said to be an early example of vertical farming.

The swiftlet  is a unique type of bird found mostly in Southeast Asia. The production of edible bird’s nest is by breeding these birds by providing them with a conducive environment which can take the form of the interior of multi-storey buildings.

The bird’s nests are produced from the swiftlets’ saliva. There are many birdhouses in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and other coastal areas in the Southeast Asian region.

Huge appetite
The huge appetite of the Chinese community all over the world for bird’s nest as a health food has generated a billion ringgit swiftlet farming industry in Malaysia. The local swiftlet farming industry has grown exponentially, especially since the Asian Economic Crisis in 1997. During that time, numerous small- and medium-sized businesses and enterprises (SMEs) had to close down due to financial difficulties.

Consequently, many premises were left vacant. Property owners were left with idle units and a number of them started to convert them into swiftlet farms.

There has been tremendous growth ever since. Prior to 1998, there were only about 900 swiftlet farms in Malaysia. By the end of year 2006, there were about 36,000 swiftlet farms all over Malaysia, with Hong Kong and China as the primary export markets.

It was recently reported that Malaysia is expected to have 63,000 swiftlet premises by 2020, producing 870 metric tonnes of bird’s nest worth RM3.5 billion. Naturally, demand for shophouses to house these birds has gone up as well with some small-time developers building shophouses specifically for this purpose. By Khairul Khalid

MPSP officers raid illegal swiftlet hotels

NIBONG TEBAL: About 30 illegal swiftlet hotels operating at the Seri Aman Business Centre here in Sungai Jawi were raided by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) on Tuesday.

For many months, residents in the surrounding area had complained about the annoying bird call used to attract swallows to the birdhouses blaring throughout the day.

Many complained that the sounds exceeded the 40-decibel limit allowed to be played between 8am and 7pm. It is believed that the operators had turned up the volume to attract more swiftlets into the building.

In the 9.30am operation, over 25 council officers broke open metal doors to the shop lots, removing 36 sound systems used to imitate bird calls to lure swiftlets to nest and mate in the building. The operators had installed several loudspeakers on the roof of the building, with some facing a residential area.

MPSP president Maimunah Mohd Sharif said swiftlet farming in the area was illegal, as it was done near a residential area. Maimunah, when contacted, said the council had served the operators with a notice in March and gave them 30 days to evacuate, but they had ignored the notice. By Predeep Nambiar

Bird's nest operators eye Middle East halal market

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian bird's nest operators are hoping to penetrate other markets, including the Middle East, after a temporary ban was lifted by China on Thursday.Selangor Bird's Nest Merchants Association president Mah Swee Lye said bird's nest products were being accepted by more countries.

He said operators were eyeing Middle East countries as the product was deemed "halal" with nutritional benefits. "Post China's ban, many operators are seeking out other countries. This includes larger markets such as Taiwan and Hong Kong. "We have received a heightened interest from Middle East countries."

As for the selling price, he said it was between RM6,000 and RM7,000 per kg before the ban, and it was between RM3,000 and RM4,000 per kg now.

In July 2011, a ban on local bird's nest products was imposed after results showed they did not comply with the permissible nitrite level. 

Federation of Malaysian Bird's Nest Merchants Association president Datuk Tok Teng Sai cautioned the nine companies that had received the green light to export bird's nest products to China to comply with China National Certification and Accreditation Administration's requirements.

Only then, he said, would they be able to export to China. Tok was referring to the companies that were given the "passed with condition status" after multiple audits from the Malaysian and Chinese governments in April.